Gathering at mosques banned before and after prayers

The government has banned all types of gathering in all mosques across the country before and after the five daily prayers and the jumma prayers of Friday.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday issued such instructions in a notification signed by deputy secretary Sakhawat Hossain alongside the health guidelines to contain spread of COVID-19.

The ban on gathering at mosques follows the March 26 violence between Hefazat-e-Islam, police and reportedly ruling party activists at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after jumma prayers over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tour of Bangladesh.

Other prayers, including tarabi during Ramadan, should be performed maintaining the social distance and hygiene rules, the notification said.

Besides, all the instructions issued by the government over in COVID-19 pandemic should be followed, the notification said.

The government has announced seven-days lockdown across the country from Monday.