The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Inhabitants of Mirpur Section No-12 have demanded of the government not to demolish Baitul Azmat Jame Mosque complex located at Shekher Kalsee Mawza in the city.

A leter signed by 300 dignitaries was submited to the Chairman of the National Housing Authority requesting him not to demolish the structures of the complex.

The Superintending Engineer (Dhaka Circle) ordered earlier on July 29 to demolish a part of the complex.

Late Nurul Haque, owner of the land, built a mosque on the same before 1946. It is one of the old mosques in the city, the inhabitants of the area said in the leter.

Later, the government acquired the land earmarking 45000 square feet for the mosque during the rule of Aiyub Khan. Even the Master Plan for Mirpur Section No-12, prepared by then government, showed the land as the property of the mosque.

The Hifzul Qur'an Madrasah and Moktab (institution of teaching holy Qur'an) were established in the mosque complex in 1964.

Besides, a modern Islamic educational institution named "Darur Rashad" has been functioning here since 1985. The students of the Madrasah obtain good results in public examinations under Bangladesh Kowmi Madrasah Board.

The inhabitants of the area had demanded allotment of the land permanently in favour of the mosque according the Master Plan. The demand is, however, yet to be fulfilled.