Loading...Located near the bustling Gulistan in the heart of Dhaka, Baitul Mukarram Mosque is the national mosque of Bangladesh. The history of the mosque dates back to when the plans to build a large mosque with a greater capacity to accommodate more worshippers in Dhaka were initiated by the prominent Pakistani industrialist family, the Bawani family.
Following this, Latif Bawani, the owner of Bawani Jute Mills, and his nephew Yahya Bawani took the initiative to construct the mosque. In 1959, the ‘Baitul Mukarram Mosque Society’ was formed to begin the project. The mosque’s design was created by the renowned Sindhi architect A.H. Tharani. The site chosen for the mosque was an 8.30-acre plot in Paltan, located at the meeting point of old and new Dhaka, which was once the Paltan pond. The construction of the mosque began with the filling of the pond on January 27, 1960, and was completed in 1962.
The mosque has a capacity of 30,000 worshippers. To add uniqueness to its design, the mosque was modeled after the Kaaba in Mecca, taking the shape of a square, unlike other mosques which typically feature a dome. No dome was added to the design of Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
Since March 28, 1975, the mosque has been maintained by the ‘Islamic Foundation Bangladesh’. In 2008, the mosque was expanded with financial assistance from the Saudi government.
Currently, Baitul Mukarram Mosque consists of eight floors. The lower floor houses a shopping complex and storage rooms. The Imam leads the prayers from the second floor. However, prayers are held on every floor from the second to the sixth floor. The third floor has a designated prayer area for women on the north side. The mosque can be accessed from the north, south, and east sides.
Every Friday, people from far and wide come to offer the Jumma prayers at this mosque. Many local and foreign tourists visit Baitul Mukarram Mosque every day to witness its architectural beauty and significance.
How to Reach:
You can take a bus to Paltan, Gulistan, or Motijheel, and from there, it’s just a short walk to reach Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
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