Friday prayers in Assam saw most faithfuls offering namaz at homes in response to the state government’s advisory not to gather in mosques, temples and churches to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
The call for prayers over the public address system for namaz usually starts at 11.45am but on Friday there was no such announcement.
Some of the mosques in Hailakandi town which usually witness large congregations during Friday namaz wore a deserted look but people gathered for community namaz in a mosque and three madarsas in various places under Algapur circle of Hailakandi district.
The general secretary of Sarbadharma Samanway Sabha, H.M. Amir Hussain, said people should stay at home and pray for the well-being of the world during the crisis time over the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. He said the gathering of people without maintaining social distance may prove fatal.
The district administration of Hailakandi has been persuading all religious leaders to avoid large gatherings in mosques in view of the coronavirus outbreak and the dangers of congregations getting infected with the dreaded virus.
Wholesale and retail grocery shops will remain open from 9am to 3pm throughout Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar districts in Barak Valley. The order stated that only those grocery shops would remain open where social distancing was maintained. It also stated that the shops have to maintain strict hygiene and ensure that there was no hike in prices of essential commodities.
All fish and meat shops will remain closed up to March 31 until further orders.
The order further stated that two persons per family would be allowed to buy essential goods from the nearest vendor and that too on foot only. No vehicles will be allowed to ply, except for emergency reasons and delivery of essential commodities.
With a view to minimising contact in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown, the Hailakandi district administration has launched Sahayata for doorstep delivery of groceries with minimal delivery charges.
The doorstep delivery of groceries at home during the lockdown period is a joint initiative of the district and Hailakandi Municipal Board. The service will be available in all 16 wards of the town.
Altogether 1,235 people have been home quarantined with 45 quarantined on Friday. Samples of three persons sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital tested negative. A total of 118 surveillance teams are in the field.
An ASHA worker was severely beaten up by local people in Chiparsangan area of Hailakandi district when she went to check on quarantined people. She has been admitted to Algapur hospital.
In Barpeta Road Jame Masjid, only three persons performed namaz on Friday. Usually over 1,200 people participate in the prayers.
“We asked people to pray at home. This is the first instance since its existence in 1981 that only three persons performed jumah,” Syed Ahmed Ali, president of the mosque, said.
Dhubri-based teacher Parvin Sultana said, “My home shares a boundary with Boro Masjid. On a normal Friday, a huge number of people come for prayers. Not an inch of space is free and all three storeys are full of people. But today, only three to four people did the namaz. I am glad that the muezzin and others took the issue seriously and wish all mosques, especially those in rural areas, follow similar steps.”
Additional reporting by Rokibuz Zaman
