Congregational prayers suspended at 136-year-old mosque in Kolkata airport
Kolkata : The BJP government has not allowed Muslims to offer prayers at the 136-year-old Bankra Mosque in BJP-ruled West Bengal.
According to Kashmir Media Service, congregational prayers at the 136-year-old Bankra Mosque, located inside the premises of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, were suspended from Saturday after worshippers were reportedly denied entry passes. Airport authorities had not issued an official statement on the development till Saturday evening.
The mosque, formally known as Gouripur Jama Masjid, is situated within the airport complex near the secondary runway. The suspension of prayers has once again brought attention to the long-pending proposal to relocate the mosque outside the airport premises.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has two runways, with the secondary runway located close to the mosque. Aviation authorities have previously raised concerns that the mosque’s proximity to the runway could affect future expansion plans and create operational challenges, particularly during emergencies when the secondary runway may be required for larger aircraft.
The mosque is located around 165 metres from the runway. Officials have reportedly maintained that the structure has delayed the proposed extension of the secondary runway and raised aviation safety and security concerns. Reacting to the suspension of prayers, mosque committee president and former West Bengal minister Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury said the BJP authorities shut the mosque without prior intimation.
“The mosque was closed without any notice on Saturday. If there is an issue, the airport authorities should resolve it through discussions. Instead, the gates of the mosque were forcibly shut with the assistance of CISF personnel. This is unfortunate,” Chowdhury said.
