496 foreign Tabligh members stranded in Bangladesh

Main gate of Kakrail mosque, the center of activities of Tabligh Jamaat in Bangladesh, is shut. Photo: Mizanur Rahman Khan

A total of 496 foreign members of Tabligh Jamaat have been stranded in Bangladesh. Many of them have here since mid January.

Of them, from India there are 175, from Indonesia 163, Kirgizstan 77, Pakistan 10, Saudi Arabia 10, Ethiopia 10, Philippines 9, China 7, Australia 5, Nepal 5, Malaysia 3, Egypt 3, Madagascar 3, Italy 2, Tunisia 2, Ireland 1, Myanmar 1, Nigeria 1, Thailand 3, US 1, Ukraine 1, UK 1, Singapore 1, South Africa 1 and South Korea 1.

It has already been proved that coronavirus infection has spread from Tabligh Jamaal’s congregations in Delhi, Jakarta, Lahore and Kuala Lumpur in the last two months. And at least 10 people have died of the virus.

Indian media outlet Hindustan Times said three Bangladeshis who participated in Tabligh Jamaat in Nizamuddin area of Delhi have been infected with coronavirus.

Chief physician of Palwal district of Haryana state Brahman Deep Sindhu confirmed this.

He said each of the infected was 30 years old. They have been kept in an isolation ward of a civil hospital.

In Bangladesh, Biswa Ijtema was organised in two phases in Tongi in January after coronavirus had broken out in Wuhan city of China in December last year.

Followers of Maulana Saad said over 3,500 Tabligh members from 61 countries attended a phase of Biswa Ijtema. The group opposed to Maulana Saad said about 2500 members from 80 countries participated in the other phase of Biswa Ijtema.

They left Bangladesh at different times. Later many members of Bangladesh Tabligh Jamaat joined rallies in Delhi, Jakarta, Lahore and Kuala Lumpur.

Tabligh was divided into two groups due to difference of opinions in 2017.

Both of the factions claimed 500 foreign Tabligh members, who are staying in Dhaka, are in good health.

Some 341 members are the followers of Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi, chief of Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi and 157 are followers of the anti-Saad group.

India on Tuesday alleged coronavirus spread to many Indian states from Indonesian Tabligh members who participated in the congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz, the Tabligh headquarters in Delhi. As a result, six people have died in Telangana state and one in Kashmir.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, a spokesperson of Saad followers in Dhaka on Wednesday said this information was not true.

A spokesperson of the other group, however, supported the Indian government’s legal steps to file a criminal case against Saad and to shut down Nizamuddin Markaz. Both of the spokespersons were not willing to disclose their names.

In reply to a question, they said they did not fall sick so they need not test for coronavirus.

A congregation of Tabligh Jamaat was scheduled to be held in Lahore on 13 March and another in an island in Indonesia on 18 March. But their governments cancelled the gatherings at the last moment.

Foreigners including Bangladeshis gathered in both the places. A four-member team of the anti-Saad group went to Lahore from Dhaka.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, a spokesperson of anti-Saad group on Wednesday said over 50,000 members in 5,000 groups now on tour have been asked to return home.

Pro-Saad followers were on the move across the country. After the announcement of the government, they were asked to return home.

And 500 foreigners were roaming across the country till mid March.

In an interview with NDTV on 31 March, Indian health minister Satyendar Kumar Jain said 24 members of Tabligh Jamaat have been infected with coronavirus. On the same day, the Hindu in a report said the home ministry on 21 March sent letters to all states and ordered to trace 824 visiting foreign Tabligh members across India, test them for coronavirus and place them in quarantine.

The government has decided to blacklist them as they were engaged in missionary work though entering India on tourist visas.

On 28 March, the home ministry in another letter warned the states about the members of Tabligh Jamaat from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, saying they were potential carriers of coronavirus. They must be tested for coronavirus and be kept in. If possible they have to be sent out of the country.

The letter also mentions that many, who participated in the congregation of Tabligh Jamaat in Malaysia between 27 February and 1 March, tested positive for coronavirus. So Malaysia returnees should be tested for coronavirus on an urgent basis.

According to reports of The Hindu and India Today, the congregation of Tabligh Jamaat took place at Nizamuddin Markaz of Delhi from 1 to 15 March. Six of the participants died of coronavirus in Telangana.

A total of 1,500 participated in the meeting at Nizamuddin Markaz. Of them, 981 have been traced. Hundreds from Kashmir also participated in the meeting.

A day before Janata Curfew was enforced on 21 March, a person tested positive for coronavirus in Kashmir.

Earlier since 16 February, he visited Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island and Deoband of Uttar Pradesh.

It is suspected he was infected with coronavirus after contacting the citizens of Indonesia or Thailand.

He had direct or indirect contact with at least 15,000 people while travelling by road, railway and air.

Eight family members of the 65-year old man have been diagnosed with coronavirus. Some 14 health workers, who treated him, have been infected with coronavirus.

On 20 March, Telangana police arrested 11 members of Tabligh Jamaat.

Speaking to this correspondent, a spokesperson of Tabligh Jamaat in Dhaka said his son, a member of Tabligh is now in a mosque of Hyderabad.

Law enforcers are monitoring the area. He had a fever, but recovered. He booked an air ticket to fly to Dhaka on 27 April. If possible he will return by train ahead of the air schedule.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.