An archaeological relic from the Bengal Sultanate rule, Sona Bibi Masjid in the Manda upazila of Naogaon is on the verge of becoming completely obliterated.
Sona Bibi Masjid lies 500 metres northeast of Kusumba Masjid, beside Shona Dighi (lake) in Kusumba village. From the remains of the ruined buildings and the abundance of scattered bricks outside the mosque, it can be deduced that Kusumba was once the royal administrative seat of the Sultans.
The masjid is 16ft wide, with 6ft-thick walls and 36ft-high walls. Legend has it that Begum Kusum, wife of 15th century Sultan of Bengal Alauddin Hossain Shah, resided next to Sona Bibi Masjid.
The construction in 2004 of Kusumba Sona Masjid Hafezia Madrasa – right on top of this historic building – had destroyed most of the structure.
However, during a recent visit this correspondent saw that three pillars and some other parts of the masjid have remained, weathering the passage of time.
A relic from Sultanate Bengal
Authored by Shamsuddin Ahmed, and published by the Barendra Museum in Rajshahi in 1960, "Oth" says the then-caretaker of Rajshahi Upazila Parishad Surendra Mohan Chowdhury had discovered a manuscript from Sona Bibi.
According to that manuscript, Sona Bibi Masjid was built on December 30, 1498.
Sona Bibi Masjid was possibly built by the Ramandals, who were the administrative officials appointed in Kusumba.
Author Ashraful Islam Palash also tried to put together the history behind Sona Bibi Masjid by collecting various information on the subject. He said there were no accurate manuscripts proving the identity of Kusum Bibi and Sona Bibi.
However, folklore suggests that Kusum Bibi and Sona Bibi existed. Many think Kusumba village was named after Kusum Bibi, after she came to Manda upazila on exile, carrying a huge quantity of valuables.
Manda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mushfiqur Rahman said: "According to different books and after some study, I have come to know that Sultan Alauddin Shah had a daughter called Shona. After she died, Alauddin was heartbroken, and built Sona Bibi Masjid in the memory of his daughter."
Mushifqur has already contacted the Archaeology Department, and has asked them to take steps to preserve the historic site.