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In focus

Four-century-old Atia Mosque on the verge of ruination

Our Correspondent, TANGAIL
The 400-year-old Atia Jam-e Mosque in Delduar upazila of Tangail with its terracotta plaques is on the verge of ruination due to lack of care and maintenance.
According to sources in Ilie Department of Archaeology, the renowned Aba Mosque is not properly cared for as there is a shortage of funds and staff.
They said that the ornamental plaques on the 9- feet wide walls of the mosque -- one of the important archaeological sites in the country - - are wearing away.
Built in the early 17th century, the mosque has lost much of its splendour. The walls of the mosque with terracotta plaques, bearing intricate patterns, are now discoloured and some of the bucks are damaged.
According to officials of Department of Archaeology' and local historians, the Zamindar of Aba, Syed Khan Panni. had the mosque built on the bank of Louhaganj River by the best masons and artisans of the time (1609). Panni received Atia Pargana from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir as a gift in the beginning of the 17th century.
The mosque iKsitua*«d next to the shrine of Hazrat Shahan Shah, who came to Atia from Kashmir in 913 Hijri along with his 39 followers to preach Islam in the region. Their graves are near the mosque.
The mosque was badly damaged in the devastating earthquake of 1800.
Later. Rowshan Khatoon Chowdhurani, a female merchant from Delhi, restored the damaged mosque in 1837. The Zamindar of $ Delduar, .Abu Ahmed Guznavi £ Khan, together with Wajed Alio Khan Pannee and otherg zamindars of Aba repaired it again “ in 1909.
"Lack of maintenance and renovanon have resulted in wearing away of many terracotta plaques,' said RafiquI Islam, Muazzin of the mosque.
It should be menboned that the Department of Archaeology took over the responsibility of the historic mosque in 1978. They put up a notice board in front of (he mosque that says it is a government property and legal actions would be taken if anyone harms the mosque. However, no initia-
tive was ever taken to restore the mosque or to protect the structure.
Moreover, no one from the department has visited the mosque in last four years, alleged
Professor S.M. Shafiullah. a local historian.
The worn out mosque was partially repaired in 2000, claimed Syed Monirul Haque, caretaker of the mosque.