Over 50,000 Bangladesh Citizens Openly Flout Social Distancing Norms to attend Function

Brahmanbaria, April 19, 2020:

Early in the morning today 50,000 people in Bangladesh attended a gathering without masks or any other protective equipment. Blatantly defying the social distancing norms, they swarmed Sorail Upazila of Brahmanbaria district adjoining Tripura to attend the funeral prayer of Khelafat Majlish's 'Nayeb-e Amir' Maulana Zubayer Ahmad Ansari, held at a madrasa in Bertola.

The mammoth crowd that thronged the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Brahmanbaria this morning sent shockwaves not only in Bangladesh but also in Tripura. The crowd kept on swelling since morning and the law enforcing agencies of Bangladesh turned wholly helpless. This, despite severe restrictions which were imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state. The local administration too were helpless to prevent the massive gathering

According to Bangladesh media Md Shahadat Hossain Titu, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sorail Police Station, said people from Dhaka also came to attend the janaza. “We did not even imagine that such a gathering would happen. When the influx of people started, there was nothing we could do," the OC said. The janaza started from the premises of Jamia Rahmania Madrasa but extended to Ashuganj. Notably, people also took part in the janaza from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.

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Such a massive gathering of more than 50,000 and shocking violation of the social distancing norms by the people set alarm bells ringing not only in Bangladesh but also in neighbouring Tripura, as the area is not too far from the international border.

"What happened in Brahmanbaria is indeed extremely worrisome. It is beyond comprehension as to how so many could openly and so blatantly defy the government order and put the lives of fellow citizens to risk. Problem is the pandemic does not stop at man-made borders and we could also be highly susceptible in case Covid-19 spreads following the gathering", a Tripura official told Inside Northeast.

"However, we are leaving no stone unturned and the border is being monitored. Nonetheless, there is no denying that we have to be extra careful this time”, he added.

In the meantime, Tasleema Nasrin, prominent Bangladeshi writer, tweeted out from Sweden in condemnation of the incident. "Stupid government didn't even try to stop these stupid people", she tweeted.

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