The mosque is a very sacred place for Muslims, and regarded as the centre of religious practice where they go to pray five times a day. In recent years, the trend of devotees of different ages praying in Jamaat (congregation) has increased significantly in Dhaka and different parts of the country.
Additionally, hundreds of new mosques with space for shops and madrasas are being established every year.
Hence, disputes and clashes have taken place in many places over establishing dominance in the managing committees. Moreover, abuse of power through spreading hatred from mosques has triggered communal attacks in some places. These disputes sometimes have led to a loss of life.
Considering these issues, the government has been working to formulate a policy to properly regulate the mosques and prevent conflicts arising from them.
In addition to being places of worship, mosques play a role in teaching the Qur'an, and practicing and promoting religion. At Friday sermons, guidance is also provided on national crises and inconsistencies in society.
However, disputes have been arising at various times in mosques, mainly over construction work, formation of managing committees and expenditures.
In some places, there is competition among mosques: how big a mosque is in an area, which mosque has AC, which mosque could organize large mahfils or Islamic conferences. In addition, many people build new mosques near existing mosques with a view to becoming influential in a particular area while some others misuse their power to become leaders of the mosque committees.
Conflicts leading to bloodshed
On April 8, 2022, one person was killed and 15 others were injured in a clash between followers of the current and former presidents of a mosque committee at Charghat in Rajshahi. The clash ensued during Iftar after one party started offering prayers at a temporary shed in the area instead of in the mosque.
Baitush Sharaf Jame Masjid was built in 1996 at Alamdarpara village of Chanhara Union of Patia Upazila of Chittagong. A dispute arose when some people of this area took the initiative to build another mosque within 20 yards of this mosque. In July 2021, a clash took place over the construction of the new mosque.
On August 19, 2022, two parties fought over the construction site of the mosque toilet in Badalgachi Upazila of Naogaon. An old man named Akbar Ali died in that clash after Friday prayers on the day.
On April 22, 2021, eight people were injured in a clash over the construction of a mosque in Shailkupa of Jhenaidah.
Monitoring is a must
The executive president of the National Imam Society, Belayet Hossein Al-Firozi, said that the incidents of clashes centering on mosques were very unfortunate. “The government should play an effective role in preventing a recurrence of such incidents,” he said.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan observed that the government is working to bring the mosques into order since new mosques are constantly being built in different places, creating division and dissension.
“The work on creating a database is underway. Once the 564 model mosques and Islamic cultural centres are completed, a huge responsibility will be assigned to them: identifying all mosques and managing committees, checking whether those are registered, and determining the distance from one mosque to another mosque, among other issues,” he added.
