BSS, Dhaka
Some 170 model mosques, out of total 560, would be inaugurated across the country in three phases by December this year marking the ‘Mujib Year’ aiming at preaching the true message of Islam to eliminate religious misconceptions.
“A total of 170 model mosques will be inaugurated across the country in three phases by December this year coinciding with the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the celebration of the golden jubilee of country’s independence,” Project Director of the Construction of 560 model mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers Md Nazibar Rahman told newsmen.
Of those, 50 mosques would be inaugurated in the first phase before the upcoming Ramadan while 60 more are being prepared for inauguration in September and another 60 in December, he said.
During a field visit to Sirajganj and Rangpur this correspondent found that over 80 percent construction work of the 4-Storiey District Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center in Sirajganj has already been completed.
Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Faruq Ahammad said that the reaming work of the mosque will be completed before March 17 and it will be inaugurated in the first phase on the occasion of the ‘Mujib Year’.
Besides, five model mosques are being prepared for inaugurating those in the first phase in Rangpur district.
“About 91 percent of construction works of the 4-Storiey District Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center in Rangpur have already been completed. We hope to complete rest of the work before Bangabandhu’s next birth day,” Executive Engineer of Public Works Department, Rangpur, Abdullah Al Mamun told BSS.
He said that a total of five mosques, out of nine, will be inaugurated in the first phase.
Imbued with the spirit of Islam and following the footsteps of Father of the Nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come up with the idea of constructing the 560 model mosques across the country involving Taka 8,722 crore, Project Director Nazibar Rahman said.
It is the second largest project after Padma Multipurpose Bridge, which is being implemented with own funding, he said, adding “It is the first ever in the world that any government is building such a large number of mosques at a time”.
The purpose of the project are publicity of Islamic brotherhood and its values as well as to disseminating the true essence of Islam against extremism and militancy as the religion never support those, Nazibar said.
Noting that Bangabandhu had established the Islamic Foundation (IF) and enacted Islamic Foundation Act, 1975, the project director said, in line with Bangabandhu’s thinking, the project also focused on building a strong Islamic organizational structure by setting up mosques and Islamic cultural centers across the country.
It would also put concentration on creating awareness against terrorism and violence against women along with disseminating development activities of the government, he said.
The project director said construction works of 420 model mosques and cultural centers have started while the construction of the remaining mosques would start soon.
According to the project document, the model mosques are being built in three categories – A, B and C. Under category A, some 69 four-storey mosques having the elevator facility are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas. Each floor of a mosque will have a space of 2,360.09 square metres.
Under category B, 475 mosques are being built with a floor space of 1680.14 square metres each, while 16 mosques under C category in coastal areas will have a floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each.
Each district and city corporation mosque would accommodate 1,200 people for prayers at a time while 900 people can offer prayer at a time in each upazila and coastal area mosque. In these mosques, some 4.94 lakh men and 31,400 women will be able to offer prayers together.
The model mosques will have the facilities such as Islamic research and Din-E-Dawah activities, Quran Hefzkhana, children and mass education system, accommodation facilities for both local and foreign tourists, arrangement of bathe and burial for deceased, enrollment and training of hajj pilgrims, car parking, and accommodation for Imam-Muazzin and officials and employees of the cultural centers.
These mosques would have library facilities, where some 34,000 people would be able to read the holy Quran and other Islamic books simultaneously.
Besides, there will be arrangements for conducting research on Islamic affairs for some 6,800 people, while some 56,000 people will be able to offer doa and munajat, and count in tasbih round the clock in the mosques once the project is completed.
There would be arrangements for imparting primary education to some 168,000 children every year apart from other religious activities. Some 14,000 Hafez-e-Quran (people who memorize the whole Quran) will come out from these mosques every year.
Besides, there would be arrangements for the accommodation of some 2,240 local and foreign guests alongside facility for digital registration of the holy hajj.
