201-domed Tangail mosque to set Guinness World Record

A beautiful mosque having 201 domes and 451 feet high minaret is being constructed in Tangail's Gopalpur upazila. The founders are expecting that this aesthetically beautiful mosque is going to be enlisted in the Guinness World Record as the most domed mosque.

The exquisite mosque of modern architecture is being built at Dakkhin Pathalia village, situated about 50 kilometers south-west from district headquarters and seven kilometers from upazila headquarters.

Rafiqul Islam Welfare Trust is constructing the mosque and the initial costs of construction of the mosque have been estimated at around Tk 100 crore.

Valiant Freedom Fighter Rafiqul Islam, a man of Dakkhin Pathalia village and former president of Bangladesh Bank Employees Federation (CBA), planned to build the aesthetically pleasing mosque in early 2012. Its construction work began on January 13, 2013. The foundation stone was laid by his mother Rizia Khatun.

Abdul Kader, a member of the Trust and also the younger brother of Rafiqul, said about 75 percent work of the mosque has already been completed and the rest of the work is still going on.

"My elder brother thought to construct the mosque after seeing space shortage on the mosque at the village. He expressed his desire to the villagers and sought their help to construct the mosque. Locals assured him to extend their supports to construct it," Kader said.

"There are so many beautiful and large mosques in the world. However, the difference of our mosque is that it is 201 domed and as far as we know there is no such mosque in the world having as many domes," he said.

When completed, about 15,000 people will be able to offer prayers at a time in the two-storied mosque being constructed on 450 decimals of land beside the Jhinai river. The length of the mosque is 144 feet while the width is the same.

Th central dome of the mosque is 81 feet high and 200 other domes, each 17 feet high, were constructed surrounding the central dome.

Four minarets, each of which is 101 feet high, have already been constructed at the four corners of the mosque. Besides, four more minarets, each 81 feet high, have also been constructed side by side.

Another 451 feet minaret is being constructed adjacent to the mosque which will be as tall as a 57-storeyed building and lift facilities will be remained till 50-story high. After completion of the construction, the minaret will stand taller than Kutub Minar (240 feet) of Delhi. 

Total 50 mounds of brass metal were used to construct the main entrance of the mosque while different types of tiles were used in the mosque after bringing these from Egypt. Rows of tiles have also been set around the walls inside the mosque where verses of the complete Holy Quran have been inscribed.   

Although there will be full air conditioning system, over one thousand electric fans will also be installed inside the mosque. 

A structure like a mazar (shrine) has also been constructed at the left side of the mosque where a free space has been kept. The founder of the mosque is supposed to be buried there.

Freedom Fighter Rafiqul Islam, the founding chairman of the Trust while talking to the local journalists expressed his hopes that the mosque will make a place in the Guinness World Records and take its place in the history of world mosques.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, both from and outside the district, come to visit the mosque every day, especially on Friday, and offer prayers, said Nur Alam, owner of Nawab Restaurant which is located in front of the mosque.

A number of ministers, bureaucrats, foreign diplomats, and Islamic scholars from different Muslim countries have also visited it, he said.

Abdul Halim Sarkar who came to visit the mosque along with a group of people said they have come to see the mosque after hearing about it from others. "It is one of the most beautiful mosques that we have ever seen and we were very happy to perform our Juma prayers on the mosque," he added.  

A helipad has also been constructed adjacent to the mosque for the convenience of the guests from home and abroad to perform prayers and visit the mosque.

A six-story building is also being constructed at the north-west side of the mosque. Free hospital for distressed women, orphanage and old-home will be set up on the building. Facilities for valiant freedom fighters and their families will also be there, founders said. 

Besides, modern hotels and restaurants will also be constructed in the area, member of a mosque construction committee said.     

They also hope that after completion of the works, the mosque will be inaugurated by the Imam of the Holy Kaaba Sharif by performing prayers. Prominent citizens including the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh will also be invited in the inaugural function.