The Ministry of Religious Affairs yesterday said people will not be allowed to have iftar and sehri at mosques during Ramadan.

To curb the spread of Covid-19, the ministry notification said soap, water, hand washing facilities or hand sanitisers should be available at the entrance of each mosque, and everyone must wear a mask.

People should come to the mosque after performing the ablutions and Sunnah prayers at home, it said, urging people to wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds while performing the ablution.

The notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Sakhawat Hossain, also said carpets should not be laid in mosques and each worshipper has to bring their own prayer mat. The entire mosque should be cleaned with disinfectants before each prayer.

Social distancing must be ensured during prayers. Children, the elderly, and those engaged in taking care of the sick should refrain from praying in congregation, the directive further mentioned.

Soaps and hand sanitisers should be kept where worshippers perform ablutions in the mosques. Prayer mats and caps kept in the mosque should be avoided.

Khatibs, imams and mosque management committee members have been asked to implement these directives, said the notification.

If these are not complied with, the administration and law enforcement agencies will take action against those concerned.