Dhaka: Thirty-one people have been infected with the novel coronavirus in a closed ISCKON temple in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, it was reported. The infections have baffled the authorities as the temple has been closed to outsiders since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Bangladesh on March 8, bdnews24 said in a report.  More than 100 people, including priests, officials and devotees, reside in the temple.

"No one was allowed into the temple. I don't understand how so many people have been infected given so much care was taken," Gendaria Police Station OC Saju Mia said after the test results from the government's disease control agency IEDCR came on Saturday.

The Old Dhaka areas under the Gendaria Police Station have recorded 55 coronavirus cases so far with three deaths.

Bangladesh has so far reported 4,998 coronavirus cases, with 140 deaths.