The assistant superintendent of police of the Sarail-Ashuganj circle and two other police officers of Sarail Police Station in Brahmanbaria have been withdrawn following the gathering of thousands of people at the namaz-e-janaza of an Islamic party leader, ignoring the shutdown over coronavirus pandemic.

Police Headquarters took the action against ASP Md Masud Rana, officer-in-charge Shahadat Hossain Titu and Inspector (investigation) Md Nurul Haque for failing to take proper steps to stop the mass gathering, said Md Imtiaz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Special Branch of Brahmanbaria District Police (DIO-1).

Among them, the ASP and OC have been attached to the Chattogram range of police, Md Imtiaz told our Brahmanbaria correspondent.

PROBE BODY FORMED

Meanwhile, a three-member committee headed by the additional deputy inspector general (admin and finance) of Chattogram range has also been formed to investigate the incident, said Sohel Rana, assistant inspector general (media) of Police Headquarters.

The two other committee members are: the additional superintendent of police (crime) of Chattogram range and Additional SP of Brahmanbaria district (admin).

The committee has been asked to submit its report within April 22, Sohel Rana said.

Defying government orders to maintain social distancing and self-isolation, thousands of people from different areas yesterday flocked to Brahmanbaria'sSarail to attend the namaz-e-janaza of Maulana Zubayer Ahmad Ansari, nayeb-e-amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.

A huge crowd gathered even though the entire district has been under lockdown since April 11, when one person died from coronavirus and seven were detected positive in a day.