No mosque in Dhaka, sometimes called the City of Mosques, has gone as far as cancelling Friday’s Jummah prayer. All that is really expected of them is to follow the government guidelines on social distancing amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Visiting two mosques in the capital, two different scenarios have been captured by the UNB photographers. A relatively small number of devotees at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque have offered Jummah prayer maintaining social distance.

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.

A man, who slaughtered 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques,;  was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the first time the maximum available sentence has been imposed.

Many Muslims in the capital took part in Jum’a prayers at mosques on Friday, a month after the restriction on congregations was withdrawn subject to abiding by necessary medical advice.