The four-hundred-year-old Atiya Mosque in Tangail, which is also known as the “10 Taka Masjid”, is one of the oldest marvels of ancient architecture in the country and still attracts everyone's attention.
The mosque is located in Atiya Union of Delduar Upazila and is under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology and Museums. This is probably the oldest mosque in the district, according to officials.
Department of Archaeology sources said Zamindar Syed Khan Panni built the Atiya Mosque beside the Louhajang River in 1609. The mosque was badly damaged in a strong earthquake in 1800. It was renovated in phases by different zamindars and merchants in this region.
In 1978, the first Atiya Mosque was featured on the cover of the Tk10 note. Then, in 1982, the new note also featured the mosque. This made it popular among the common people of the country. People from different parts of the country used to visit Tangail and see the beauty of the mosque.
The wall of the mosque is 7-feet thick, while its length is 59 feet, its width is 40 feet, and its height is 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 on the north-south wall, along with the balcony. The inner west wall has three 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.
But now it is in a shabby state, and therefore the local people want it repaired. People in the area told this reporter that a connecting road must also be built so that people from distant areas can visit the mosque with ease. They want the mosque to be featured in future currency notes as well.
While visiting the mosque recently, this reporter found traces of fresh paint on some walls, but the decorative works remained ignored and postponed. The road connecting the mosques is dilapidated. However, there is a school and a pond close by.
Ashraf Hossain Manik, vice president of the mosque management committee, told Dhaka Tribune that hundreds come to the spot every Friday, including tourists from around the world. But due to the poor state of the mosque and the road, a large number of tourists do not visit the spot. As the mosque is an archaeological site, the local people cannot do anything about renovating it. The recent renovation was not up to par, he added.
Rafiqul Islam, muezzin of the mosque, told Dhaka Tribune that he has been working at the mosque in the same post for the past 30 years. As hundreds of people come every Friday, the mosque cannot accommodate them all. As a result, the local people have also raised a demand for expanding the mosque.
Deputy Commissioner Kaiserul Islam said that the local authorities will do everything necessary to preserve the archaeological site. He said that he would contact the Upazila Nirbahi Officer regarding the demands of the people.
