Alarming photo shows crowd of 100,000 amid coronavirus lockdown
As billions of people around the world are stuck adhering to strict lockdowns and physical distancing measures due to the coronavirus pandemic, shocking images from one country have made headlines around the world.
As many as 100,000 people turned out at a funeral in Bangladesh over the weekend, sparking alarm that the event could lead to a huge outbreak of the deadly disease.
No one appeared to be wearing masks, gloves, or any protective gear.
Bangladesh officials are reportedly investigating how the huge crowd was allowed to attend the funeral of a popular Islamic preacher on Saturday, even as authorities battle a surge in virus cases.
Police had agreed with the family of Jubayer Ahmad Ansari, that only 50 people would attend the funeral in the eastern town of Sarail because of the risk of spreading the disease.
But local police chief Shahadat Hossain said officers were helpless to stop the crowds who came to honour the 55-year-old popular preacher and seminary head, who died on Friday.
“People came in waves,” he told AFP.
Organisers said some 100,000 attended the funeral. Aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Shah Ali Farhad, also said more than 100,000 were present.
According to the latest figures as of Monday morning, AEST, the country has recorded more than 2,400 coronavirus cases and 91 deaths.
Bangladesh imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 26 as coronavirus spread across the country of 168 million people.
The health department said the number of cases had risen by more than 300 on Saturday, the day of the funeral.
Authorities have conducted few tests and experts say the number of cases is higher than officially recognised.
Despite the scenes over the weekend, the government has been trying to prevent large gatherings and has brought in new rules that ban more than five people taking part in prayers in the country's 300,000 mosques.
The prime minister has called on Bangladeshis to pray at home when the Ramadan festival starts this month. But a group of influential clerics has called on Muslims to turn out in their masses for daily prayers.
Global textile industries hit by pandemic
The funeral was held just a day after hundreds of Bangladeshi workers who produce garments for global brands are demanding their unpaid wages during a nationwide lockdown that has forced most factories to suspend operations.
A leader of the factory owners' association blamed global brands for abruptly cancelling orders from many factories.
Protests were reported in several parts of Dhaka, including in Kamlapur and Mirpur, while hundreds of workers blocked a highway outside the capital, disrupting vehicles carrying produce.
Bangladesh's textile industry accounts for nearly 85 per cent of the nation's $40 billion in annual exports and employs nearly four million workers, mostly women from rural areas. It is facing serious trouble after global brands including Wal-Mart, H&M and Marks & Spencer cancelled orders because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The global tally of confirmed coronavirus cases has surged passed 2.4 million, according to a rolling tally by John Hopkins University. There have been more than 165,000 cases recorded COVID-19 deaths so far.
with AFP, AP
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