The 400-year-old Atiya Mosque lies neglected
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Atiya Mosque
The four-hundred-year-old Atiya Masjid still attracts everyone's attention. Atiya Jame Mosque stands as a unique monument of ancient architecture. The mosque is located in Atiya Union of Delduar Upazila of Tangail. The mosque has been neglected for a long time without any renovation. The mosque is under the supervision of the Department of Archeology and Museums.
It is known that in 1978, the first Atiya mosque was featured on the cover of the 10 taka note. Then, in 1982, Atiya Mosque was also featured on the cover of the 10 taka note. This made the mosque easily known among the countrymen. The mosque is not only a heritage site but also a place to visit. People come here from different parts of the country. The mosque was built during the reign of Musa Khan, son of Isha Khan, a Bhuiyan of Baro Bhuiyan. Isha Khan's capital was Sonargaon. He was the ruler of Sonargaon region. Greater Dhaka and Greater Mymensingh were then included in the Sonargaon region. Isha Khan created a pargana in Atiya of Delduar upazila of Tangail to facilitate the administration. At that time the administration of Atia Pargana was entrusted to Musa Khan, son of Isha Khan.
This historic mosque is located on the banks of the Lauhjong River, 7 km southwest of Tangail. Although its construction was about 400 years ago, the mosque is known to all as a unique masterpiece of ancient architecture. The size of this ancient mosque is 20.9 meters outside and 16.13 meters outside. The wall of the mosque is 5.5 feet, length 42 feet, width 32 feet and height 44 feet.
There are four huge octagonal minarets at the four corners of the mosque. At the top of the minaret there is a beautifully crafted small dome. Various types of craftsmanship on the domes have increased the beauty of the mosque many times.
The main hall and the veranda of the mosque are divided into two parts. There is one door each in the eastern and middle walls of the mosque. There are two doors each in the north-south wall along with the balcony. The inner west wall has 3 beautiful arches. There are two stone pillars along each wall of the main room. The main hall is topped by a huge imposing dome. There are three entrances on the eastern wall of the verandah. There is an inscription on the lower part of the upper part of the middle entrance. History mentions that there was an inscription before the present one. This inscription is written in Persian. As the original inscription was destroyed, the present inscription was added later during the renovation of the mosque. The present inscription mentions that the Atiya Mosque was built in 1018 Hijri.
It is also known that Bayezid Khan Panni's son Sayed Khan Panni built the mosque in 1609. Sayed Khan Panni is the progenitor of the famous Panni zamindar clan of Karatia in Tangail. There is another inscription to the right of the gate on the west side of the mosque. This inscription written in English shows that it was built by Sayed Khan Panni in 1609. Then in 1837 Roshan Khatun Chaudhurani, a member of Delduar Zamindar Bari, renovated the mosque. Later, the zamindar of Delduar, Abu Ahmad Ghaznavi, and some others, including the zamindar of Kartia, Wazed Ali Khan Panni, renovated the mosque again in 1909. Currently the mosque is being maintained under the National Museum.
Iqbal Bahar, a visitor, said, I have come from Cumilla to see Atiya Masjid. It was my dream for a long time to visit Atiya Masjid, today I am very happy to make my dream come true. It was a dream of many years to come and pray in this mosque, I prayed. The traditional mosque needs renovation. The mosque is neglected and neglected. The government demands that the mosque be renovated as soon as possible.
Monir Hasan, another visitor, said, "I saw this mosque in ten taka notes when I was young. Since then I have wanted to visit the mosque. I am from Savar. I really liked seeing the mosque. Demand to the government to bring back the picture of Atiya mosque in ten taka notes along with reformation.
Local Jabbar Munshi said, the government has developed a lot in the country, if we renovate this mosque, the mosque will be beautiful. The mosque is falling apart due to lack of renovation. I am requesting the government to renovate the mosque and build it anew.
Chairman of Atiya Union Parishad Mohammad Sajjat Hossain Azad said, brightness is lost from the traditional Atiya Mosque. The beauty of the mosque is on the way to extinction. Renovation of the mosque is urgently needed. We request the Department of Archeology and Museums to renovate the mosque and bring back its heritage.
