As many as 50 model mosques, out of a total of 560, are set to be inaugurated simultaneously across Bangladesh on Thursday, marking Mujib Year with an aim to preach the true message of Islam to eliminate religious misconceptions.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the mosques on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the celebration of the golden jubilee of the country’s independence, said Deputy Project Director Md Shafiqur Rahman Talukder.

“She will connect with Khulna, Rangpur and Sylhet during the inauguration through videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital tomorrow [Thursday],” he added.

“The project is being implemented with government funds as Saudi Arabia backed out from financially assisting the project as per its commitment. This is the second largest government funded project after the Padma Multiple Bridge,” the deputy project director told Dhaka Tribune.

Construction work of all 560 of mosques would be completed by December 2023, he added.

“This is the first time any government in the world is building such a large number of mosques at a time,” he added.

Imbued with the spirit of Islam and following in the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come up with the idea of constructing the 560 model mosques across the country involving Tk8,722 crore.

The 50 mosques ready to be inaugurated are located at: Savar upazila in Dhaka; Madhukhali and Saltha upazilas in Faridpur; Pakundia and Kuliarchar upazilas in Kishoreganj; Shibaloy upazila in Manikganj; Rajbari sadar upazila; Shariatpur sadar and Gosairhat upazilas; Shariakandi, Sherpur and Kahaloo upazilas in Bogra; Sapahar and Porsha upazilas in Naogaon; Sirajganj district and sadar upazila; Chatmohar upazila in Pabna; Godagari and Paba upazilas in Rajshahi; Khansama and Birol in Dinajpur; Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat; Panchagarh sadar and Debiganj upazilas; Rangpur district, sadar upazila, Mithapukur, Pirganj and Badarganj upazilas; Haripur upazila in Thakurgaon; Subarnachar upazila in Noakhali; Gafargaon and Tarakanda upazilas in Mymensingh; Chittagong district, Lohagara, Mirsharai and Sandwip upazilas; Jamalpur sadar and Islampur upazilas; Nabinagar and Bijoynagar upazilas in Brahmanbaria; Bhola sadar; Dakshinsurma upazila in Sylhet; Daudkandi upazila in Comilla; Panchhari upazila in Khagrachhari; Kushtia sadar; Khulna district; Kachua upazila in Chandpur; Rajapur upazila in Jhalakathi; and Chuadanga sadar upazila.

Mosques fully ready
During a field visit to Savar and Manikganj it was found that the newly constructed four-storied mosques were fully ready for prayers and cultural activities.

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, additional chief engineer of the Public Works Department, said the design of the mosques included a library, training centre, research centre, autism corner, children and public education centre and hajj registration centre.

According to project officials, the purposes of the project are publicity of Islamic brotherhood and its values as well as disseminating the true essence of Islam against extremism and militancy.

The project also aims at emphasizing creating awareness against terrorism and violence against women along with focusing on the development activities of the government.

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 with elevator facilities are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas. Each floor of a mosque will have 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 floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each.

Each district and city corporation mosque will accommodate 1,200 people for prayers at a time while 900 people can offer prayers at a time in each upazila and coastal area mosque. 

In the 560 mosques, some 494,000 men and 31,400 women will be able to offer prayers together. These mosques will have library facilities, where some 34,000 people will 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 in the mosques once the project is completed.