Body buried by UNO, OC after Alems refuse to hold janaza

Dhaka-23: Mujibnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Usman Gani, Upazila Health and Family Planning officer Dr Rezwan Ahmed and Mujibnagar Police Station OC Abdul Hashem along with five local youths buried the body of Idris Ali Shah, who died at Meherpur General Hospital with coronavirus symptoms on Wednesday.Idris Shah, 35, was a resident of village Bhaberpara under Mujibnagar upazila.
Earlier, a five-member local Mujibnagar Alem (clerics) Committee of the Islamic Foundation declined to offer funeral prayer and bury late Idris Ali as he died with coronavirus symptoms. Subsequently, Mujibnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Usman Gani buried the dead body taking permission from the Meherpur deputy commissioner.
Local Gopalnagar Jame Mosque Imam Maulana Touhidul Islam conducted funeral prayer of late Idris Ali Shah.
UNO Usman Gani said six alems including five selected by the Islamic Foundation were called in for the burial of late Idris Ali. When the alems heard that the person had died with coronavirus symptoms, they expressed their inability to bury the dead body.
“I talked to Deputy Commissioner Ataul Gani regarding the matter. Then Upazila Health and Family Planning officer Dr Rezwan Ahmed, Mujibnagar Police Station OC Abdul Hashem and I started our preparations for the burial of dead body with faith in Allah. We took preparations to conduct funeral prayer. However, local Gopalnagar Jame Mosque Imam Maulana Touhidul Islam finally came and conducted the prayer,” he said.
“Later, we three officers with the help of five local youths buried the body of late Idris Ali,” he added.