No jamaat at Eidgah or open grounds this Eid-ul-Azha due to Covid-19: Govt

There will be no Eid jamaat at Eidgah or open grounds this Eid-ul-Azha due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, people have been asked to offer Eid prayers at nearby mosques, following health guidelines and special instructions.

The government issued with the decision following a virtual inter-ministerial meeting organized by the religious affairs ministry today.

Presided over by Nurul Islam, secretary, religious affairs ministry, officials of Cabinet Division, Prime Minister's Office, different ministries including Home, Health Ministry, LGRD, Information, Public Administration, Fisheries and Livestock, and Dhaka South City Corporation, among others, attended the meeting.

In the meeting, it was decided that this year, the main congregation of Eid-ul-Azha will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque following health guidelines instead of the National Eidgah considering the coronavirus infection situation.

In the meeting, mosque authorities have been asked not to keep carpets in the mosques during prayers, entire mosques should be disinfected before prayers, and everyone will have to bring their own prayer mats (jainamaz).

There should be soap or hand sanitiser at the entrance of every mosque and people will have to maintain distance and follow health guidelines during offering prayers, meeting sources said.

Besides, people will have to do their wudu -- the ritual washing of hands and feet before prayers -- at home, and wear masks before going to mosques.

Elderly people, children, ailing persons and their caregivers should not come to mosques to offer Eid prayers, the meeting also decided.

People have also been requested not to hug or shake hands after Eid prayer.

The religious affairs ministry will soon issue a notice mentioning do's and don'ts for people and the mosque authorities to follow during Eid prayers, Public Relations Officer of Religious Affairs Ministry Mohammad Anwar Hossain, said.