Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain has said that the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque in Chattogram will be developed on the model of the iconic Masjid al-Nabawi.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday afternoon, the adviser described the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque as a unique example of Mughal architecture and emphasized that it can be developed as a symbol of Islamic heritage, in line with the aspirations of the local Muslim community.

In response to a question, Dr. Khalid confirmed that the mosque is approximately 400 years old and is considered a historical archaeological monument. He said that a final decision regarding the preservation of the mosque's original structure will be made after discussions with the Archaeological Department.

Regarding the mosque’s design, the Religious Affairs Adviser explained that plans will ensure the space is optimized to accommodate a large number of worshippers.

He also revealed that a sum of Taka 10 crore, donated by the Kuwait Charity Fund, has already been deposited into the ministry's fund to begin the project. "Work will commence with this amount, and if additional funds are required, they will be sourced from the Islamic Foundation and the ministry's budget," he said.

Dr. Khalid further mentioned that the Directorate of Architecture has been tasked with preparing the design for the mosque. The Directorate has already completed the soil test and digital survey, and he expressed optimism that the design would be finalized by December this year. "We hope to lay the foundation stone for the development work in January 2025," he added.

The press briefing was also attended by Islamic Foundation Divisional Director Borhan Uddin Md Abu Ahsan, Imam Training Academy Deputy Director Md Ashrafuzzaman, Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque Khatib Maulana Syed Md Anwar Hossain Taher Jaberi Al-Madani, Mosque Imam Maulana Md Anwarul Haque, Musalli Parishad President Salahuddin Kasem Khan, and other local leaders.