The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday issued mandatory guidelines for offering prayers in congregation at mosques across the country during the seven-day tough lockdown from Thursday.The ministry, which also made wearing masks mandatory, directed the elderly people, children and the sick to abstain from going to mosques, said a notification on Wednesday.Besides, the notification said, each mosque should have enough soap, water and sanitizer to ensure health hygiene.The  ministry urged devotees to perform Sunnah prayers and ablution in their respective residences. READ: Govt lifts restriction on offering prayers at mosques In its guideline, the ministry said, the devotees will have to bring their personal prayer mats as authorities will not be allowed to lay out carpets on mosque floors.Local administrations will take legal action against those who will violate the directives, the notification added.

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Friday morning offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall instead of National Eidgah.  In the wake of the second outbreak of Covid-19, the traditional Eid prayers in the capital's National Eidgah Maidan were cancelled this year too. President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the head-of-state chose to offer prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall in view of the pandemic. The press secretary also said that a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of Bangladesh. The Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at 10 am. Pesh Imam of Bangabhaban Jame Mosque Mufti Maulana Saiful Kabir led the Eid prayers, Joynal said. Also read: President wishes citizens on occasion of Eid  Members of the President's family and senior officials of Bangabhaban also offered Eid prayers along with him, following all Covid safety protocols. Eid greetings exchange was not allowed this year due to the pandemic. The President's speech congratulating the nation on the occasion of Eid was aired on Bangladeshi TV channels.

Hefazat-e-Islam’s chief Junaid Babunagri has said that the recitation of the holy Quran and prayers during Ramadan will stop the spread of the coronavirus. He said they will not allow the government to shut down madrasas in the pretext of lockdown and called for allowing people to pray at mosques during the month of fasting. “We won’t allow shutting down of madrasas in the pretext of lockdown to curb coronavirus and stopping prayers at mosques. Taraweeh, Jum’a prayers and ‘Etekaf’ will continue,” he said after an emergency meeting of Hefazat at Hathazari on Sunday. Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown He said the National Ulama Mashayekh Council would take place on May 29 at Hathazari. “Coronavirus won’t have any effect because of recitation of the Quran, [discussion on] Hadith and prayers at religious gatherings,” the Hefazat chief said. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest single-day deaths “No madrasa student or religious scholar has been infected with coronavirus. The virus won’t infect because of religious gatherings and prayers during Iftaar,” he added. When asked about Mamunul Haq’s resort incident, Babunagri said it was a “personal affair”.

The government has asked the Muslim devotees not to arrange iftar gatherings and sehri in mosques during Ramadan to contain the recent surge in Covid-19 infections. The religious affairs ministry on Monday issued new directives in this connection. The guidelines also include instructions on praying in congregations at mosques. "The devotees must come to mosques after performing their ablution and Sunnah prayers at home. If they do not do so, they must wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds while performing ablution at mosques," it read. Also read: Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan The ministry said the worshippers, who visit mosques to pray in congregation, must arrive there wearing masks. Mosque management committees must ensure the availability of handwashing facilities – sanitisers and soap water – at the entrance. They have also been asked not to use carpets and clean the mosques with disinfectants before the five daily prayers. "The devotees must bring their prayer mats. Social distancing must be ensured while they stand for prayers" the ministry said. "Children, elderly, sick people and attendants to the ill must not attend congregations." Also read: Wear masks at mosques: Islamic Foundation Also, the ministry asked local administration, law enforcement, khatib, imam and mosque committees to ensure the implementation of the said directives. Local administration and law enforcement will take legal steps if anyone violates the instructions, the ministry said. In the wake of Covid-19 infections and fatalities, the government imposed a seven-day lockdown from Monday. Also read: Public transport to be suspended from Monday: Quader Most of the transport services would remain suspended while the office work would continue on a limited scale. On March 28, the Saudi government announced that there would be no iftar gatherings or Aitekaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, began on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi after Fazr prayers on Friday.