Mass gathering at "Namaz-e-Janaza" of Cleric violates lockdown in Dhaka

Dhaka:Three police officers of Sarail Police Station in Brahmanbaria district were withdrawn, as they failed to prevent the gathering of thousands of people at the Namaz-e-Janaza of a prominent Islamic party leader, violating the lockdown orders enforced by the government, so as to ensure social distancing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.The withdrawn officers include the Sarail-Ashuganj Assistant Superintendent Police (ASP) and two other officers.

Apart from withdrawing the three officers, police has also formed a three-member committee headed by the Additional Deputy Inspector General (Admin and Finance) of Chattogram range to investigate the incident, said Sohel Rana, Assistant Inspector General (media) at Police Headquarters.

The ASP (Crime) of Chattogram range and Additional SP of Brahmanbaria district (Admin) are the two other members of the committee, which has been asked to submit its report by April 22, Mr Rana said.

Defying the government orders to maintain social distancing and self-isolation, thousands of people from different areas flocked to Brahmanbaria's Sarail to attend the namaz-e-janaza of Maulana Zubayer Ahmad Ansari, nayeb-e-amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.

A huge crowd gathered, despite the entire district being under lockdown since April 11, when a person had died from Novel Coronavirus and seven were detected positive in a single day.(UNI)