Historical Pagla Mosque An Old Mosque At Kishoreganj In Bangladesh

It is difficult to find a person who has not heard the name of Bar Bhuiyan. The name that comes to mind at once about Isha Khan, one of the Bar Bhuiyans, is Kishoreganj, a town rich in Muslim tradition. Rich in ancient and modern architecture, this mosque is known as ‘Pagla Mosque’, one of the many places of interest in Kishoreganj.

About two and a half years old, this historic Pagla Mosque is located in the Harua area of ​​Kishoreganj district town. The three-storey mosque is located on the west side of the city. Greater Mymensingh and its environs are known as a very sacred religious place not only to the followers of Islam but also to the followers of all religions. The Narsunda River flows past the mosque.

Pagla Mosque Kishoreganj

The Pagla Mosque is a historical mosque located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is one of the prominent mosques in the city and was built in 1653-1656. It was constructed by Nawab Shaista Khan, who was a governor of Bengal during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

The mosque is one of the few surviving examples of Mughal architecture in Bangladesh and has been declared as a National Monument by the Government of Bangladesh.

The mosque, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, is also known as the “Pagla Mosque” because of its large dome. The mosque stands on a raised platform and is surrounded by a cloister. It has three domes and measures 60 meters (200 ft) in length and 40 meters (130 ft) in width.

The mosque has been built with red sandstone from Rajasthan and white marble from Makrana near Jodhpur. The exterior walls are decorated with intricate carvings which depict flowers, leaves, vines, creepers and geometric patterns in low relief.

History Of The Pagla Mosque

There are rumors that many years ago a mad spiritual man floated to get a mat in the middle of the Narsunda river and stayed near the present mosque and many devotees gathered around him. After the death of that mad spiritual man, a mosque was built next to his tomb. Which later came to be known as ‘Pagla Masjid’.

The Construction Style of Pagla Mosque

This mosque built on the banks of the Narsunda river is one of the examples of modern architecture and construction style. The high minaret of this three-storeyed mosque can be seen from afar. Earlier, the amount of waqfed land of Hibbatnagar Dewanbari was 10 percent. Which has now increased to 3 acres 88 percent.

A Hafezia Madrasa was established next to the mosque in 2002. This mosque, which is equally popular with people of all religions, is visited by countless devotees every day. Perform prayers in a sacred atmosphere in the mosque. The belief of the people is that if someone gives some alms in this mosque with sincere intention, the desire of his mind is fulfilled. Due to that belief, devotees donate a lot to this mosque. As a result, the mosque has been recognized as one of the most lucrative religious institutions in the country. The mosque is now named Pagla Masjid Islamic Complex. Some of the income from the mosques is given to the mosques and orphanages. Some parts are given for the development work of various mosques and in the service sector.

How To Go The Old Mosque At Kishoreganj

To reach this historic mosque of the country, you have to take a bus or train to Kishoreganj. Rickshaws can be added to the Pagla Mosque from anywhere in Kishoreganj city.

Why do people donate huge sums of money to Pagla Mosque?

In fact, there are two stories, and they both have to do with a glorious period in the history of Bengal. The "Baro Bhuiyan" was a collective of zamindars of the Bengal region who banded together to fight off the Mughals looking to conquer this region. Isa Khan, the legendary leader of the Baro Bhuiyan, was a forebear of the Haybatnagar zamindar family.

The Haybatnagar zamindar mahal is split in two parts. "Dewanbari" is the wing of the house whose residents were descendants of Isa Khan. According to one of the myths behind the founding of Pagla Mosque, Dewan Zilkadar Khan, a descendant of Isa Khan from the Haybatnagar zamindar family, was a man of strong spiritual repute.

Legend has it that Dewan Zilkadar Khan laid a mat in the middle of the Narsunda river, and floated on its waves to reach the location where the mosque stands today. Some say he offered prayers there; others say that his spiritual presence attracted crowds. Eventually, the zamindar family built a prayer hut on some raised ground in the middle of the river for Dewan Zilkadar Khan, who was also known as Zilkadar "Pagla". This place of prayer eventually became the Pagla Mosque we know today.

The other story is also linked to the Haybatnagar zamindar family, but this has to do with a childless woman in the family that the locals used to call "Pagla Bibi". Pagla Bibi had a vision in a dream that dictated her to build a mosque, and many believe that the mosque she built is now known as Pagla Mosque.

Whatever the true origins of the Pagla Mosque may be, it now holds a special place in the hearts of the spiritual people of this region. Muslims as well as followers of other faiths flock to Kishoreganj in the hope of donating to this mosque. They believe that if someone donates to this mosque with true belief in their hearts, then they will be spared from diseases or other troubles that may be ailing them.

Clearly, the enormous amount of money it collects as a donation shows that this belief is strong among many. Since 1979, the mosque has been administered by the government, and the district's DC serves as the president of the mosque administration committee. In August 2023, Tk 5.78 crore was collected from the donation boxes, and three months before that in May, the collection was Tk 5.59 crore. The donations come in the form of cash, both local and foreign currencies, as well as gold ornaments.

The commitment is to spend this money for the welfare of the mosque, for other Islamic centres in the region as well as for assistance to the poor and sick. In June 2021, part of the money was used to buy medical equipment for Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj. A plan is in place to build an international standard Islamic Complex in the Pagla Mosque. The construction cost of which has initially been estimated at Tk 115 crore.