Offering prayers at mosques had largely been restricted in a bid to tamp down the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19.

Muslims were seen offering prayers at different mosques wearing masks and maintaining distance in the capital.

Mufti Mizanur Rahman, senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, said “Muslim devotees offered their prayers maintaining distance and following the government’s health advice. The floors of the mosques were disinfected before the prayer and the devotees allowed to enter the mosque after they sanitised their hands.”

After the congregation, the mosque was disinfected again, he said.

Abu Hena Mohammad Russel, who offered prayer at Nurani Islamia Mosque at Mirpur-2, said, “They offered prayers after maintaining distance and entered the mosque after washing their hands.”

The Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a notification on Wednesday allowing people to offer prayers, including Tarabi, at mosques from Thursday’s Zohr prayers subject to following health guidelines.

On April 6 last, the ministry had directed all to avoid mosques and offer prayers at home to prevent the transmission of fast-spreading coronavirus.

It had asked people to offer Zohr prayers at home instead of Jum’a on Friday.

Saying prayers five times a day is one of the ‘five pillars’ of Islam and the Friday prayer, which is done in congregations, is the most important one among them. 

The minister also asked the people of other religions to offer prayers at home instead of congregating at religious institutions.

On April 23, the ministry had decided that only 10 Muslim devotees and two imams would be allowed to offer Tarabi prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan.