The government has directed people of all faiths to wear masks while visiting places of worship, including mosques, temples, and churches across the country, apprehending a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic might rip through Bangladesh during the southern hemisphere's winter that is almost here.

The Religious Affairs Ministry issued a notice in this regard as Bangladesh registered 420,238 Covid-19 cases and 6,067 deaths from the deadly disease till Sunday morning.

The ministry has issued such notices at different times making it compulsory to wear masks at all religious sites, it said.

But it is a matter of great concern that the people have recently slackened in their use of masks, it said.

“So, fresh instructions have been issued to ensure social distancing, proper health guidelines, and the wearing of masks at religious sites," the notice said.

“No mask, no service”- the prime minister's dictum from last week directed at government service providers, should be widely promoted to raise awareness among people, the ministry said.

All places of worship including mosques, temples, and churches have been requested to announce the directives regularly through their loudspeakers or megaphones, it added.

Earlier on October 25, seeing many people have become reluctant to wear face masks despite the prevalence of Covid-19, the government decided it would deny its services to those seeking them without wearing a mask.

“Instructions have been given at all levels, to all of our institutions -- social, organizational or formal institutions-- that no mask, no service. Masks must be used in all institutions, haats, markets, shopping malls, schools, and social and religious gatherings. We’ve made it compulsory,” Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said.

He was briefing journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting.

Deshsangbad/dt/fh/mmh