48 Bangladeshis remanded in Malaysia over Covid rule violation during Eid prayers

A court in Malaysia on Wednesday placed 48 Bangladeshis, among 49 people, on four-day remand each over the violation of Covid-19 rules during the Eid-ul-Azha prayers in the country.

Malaysian police arrested them for allegedly being in a congregation of hundreds of foreigners outside an Islamic assembly building, locally known as surau, in Taman Pelangi of Johor state on Tuesday morning, reports The Star.

Police produced all the arrested before the Bukit Mertajam courthouse on Wednesday morning.

Assistant court registrar Hasliza Razak passed the order granting police to interrogate the Bangladeshis, aged between 20 and 43 years, to help with the investigation.

Besides, a 64-year-old local man who was part of the group was remanded for three days.

Penang police chief Commander Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the men allegedly performed Eid-ul-Azha prayers outside the surau.

It was reported that the group had gone to the surau for prayers but were denied entry as the limit of 100 people had been reached.

They then reportedly gathered to perform their prayers on the road in front of the surau, which is near the Taman Pelangi flats in Auto City, Juru.

Mohd Shuhaily said despite the group appearing to practise physical distancing, police are tracking down about 200 of them to investigate the gathering under Section 269 of the Penal Code for a negligent act that could spread an infectious disease, as well as movement without permission, Section 270 of the Penal Code for spreading harmful infection, and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) (Measures in Communicable Areas) Regulations 2020.