Hathazari in Ctg: Fakir Mosque, a living testament of history

Located beside Krishi Farm Road in the heart of Hathazari upazila of Chattogram stands what is arguably one of the oldest surviving mosques in the division, the Fakir Mosque.

Historians consider the mosque an important relic of the Sultanate era. A broken inscription found next to the structure suggests it was built between 1474 and 1481 during the reign of Sultan Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah.

The mosque is mentioned in Ahadees-ul-Khawanin, a book on Chattogram's history written in 1871 by Hamid Ullah Khan. Later, Prof Abdul Karim, historian and former vice-chancellor of Chittagong University, published a reading of the damaged inscription, helping establish the estimated construction period.

Historians said the mosque, originally covering around 1,680 square feet, had long remained abandoned and hidden under dense bushes. It was rediscovered around 200 years ago by a Sufi named Mukim Shah, who cleared the structure and began using it again for prayers.

His grave still stands at the mosque's entrance, and over time the site became known as the Fakir Mosque.

The last major renovation took place in 1993–94, when a three-storey structure was built adjacent to the building.

A recent visit found that a new prayer hall has been added on the eastern side to accommodate more worshippers, as the old mosque can no longer fit the congregation.

Around 250 to 300 people attend daily prayers, while the number rises to more than 800 during Juma on Fridays.

The mosque's most distinctive feature is its cluster of six small, closely placed rounded domes, each topped with a decorative finial.

The mosque and its adjoining shrine are maintained by the sixth generation of Mukim Shah's descendants.

"This is an ancient mosque. Our elders used to offer prayers here. We also come regularly," said Abul Fazal, 65, of Garduara union.

Mohammad Lokman, a CU staffer from Rangipara, said, "Since childhood, we have seen people coming from distant places to offer Friday prayers at this mosque. This mosque holds a special significance for the people."

"My ancestor Mukim Shah discovered and restored this mosque. He passed away 134 years ago. Our family has been managing the mosque and the shrine for generations. However, the property has been officially waqf-listed," said Syed Rafiq-ul-Hasan, the mutawalli and a descendant of Mukim Shah.

Despite being several centuries old, the mosque has not yet been declared a heritage site by the Department of Archaeology. Last year, the DoA included it in an on-site survey list.

"The Fakir Mosque is a living testament of history. The archaeology department should take the initiative to preserve this site urgently," said Bangla Academy fellow and Chattogram-based researcher Md Shamsul Haque.

Contacted, Dr Nahid Sultana, regional director of DoA in Chattogram, said, "Fakir Mosque has been registered as a heritage site in our survey. It will be gazetted, the process is underway. Since it is several hundred years old, we will prepare some guidelines for its preservation."