Patuakhali mosque under lockdown
Patuakhali local administration puts a mosque under lockdown as a Tablighi delegation appeared there on Monday morning amid countrywide shutdown
Patuakhali Sadar Upazila administration has placed a mosque under lockdown and quarantined nine Tablighi men there who arrived at the mosque on Monday morning.
Despite the countrywide shutdown, the Tablighi delegation appeared on Monday morning at the mosque which is adjacent to the Ballavpur Dakhil Madrasa at the Bosak Bazar area in the district.
The local people repeatedly requested them to go away. Then they informed the local administration because the Tabligh activists refused to go back.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Latifa Jannati, who came to inspect the mosque, found the Tablighi members inside. She immediately declared the lockdown and asked the Tabligh members to self-isolate for 14 days.
The upazila administration says the quarantined Muslims inside the mosque can perform azan and daily prayers if they want. But people from the outside will not be allowed to join them.
The UNO said none of the quarantined people showed any coronavirus symptoms. However, they have been put under self-isolation as they came from different places and it was unclear if they were carrying the virus.
"The Patuakhali zila health office will collect medical samples for testing if any of the missionary movement men develop Covid-19-like symptoms," she added.