Floating mosque! A symbol of novelty and nobility of civilization in the Muslim world. The first of this kind of mosque was heard in Saudi Arabia in 1985. Malaysia is considered the paradise of the floating mosque. This time a floating mosque has been built in Bangladesh. On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, the first floating mosque of Bangladesh, Noah (AS) was inaugurated in Protapnagar Union under Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira. Today's feature focuses on this mosque.

Background of the floating mosque in Satkhira

The Baitun Najad Jame Mosque, located in the Hawladar Bari area, has become detached from the mainland due to the breakage of the embankment at Bonyotola and the Kholpetua river erosion during Yaas and Amphan. As a result, the local Muslims weren't able to go to the mosque to perform the prayers together.

Meanwhile, the Imam of the mosque, Hafez Moinur Rahman, used to reach that detached place through swimming in order to call for prayers five times a day. Occasionally, it was convenient for him to cross the waterway if a boat was available by chance. But mostly he had to swim alone. Sometimes he had to pray four times solely. At times, when the mosque is inundated with river water, Imam used to spend the night on the roof of the mosque.

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Imam Moinur Rahman has also lost his homestead in the flood and was going through indescribable hardship in life with his parents, wife, and two daughters. However, such hardships couldn’t affect the Imam’s brazen stamina and unyielding devotion to prayers. 

A humanitarian foundation called, ‘Do Something’, recorded the footage of Imam’s swimming struggle from that waterlogged mosque in September 2021. The video footage spread out throughout social media within hours. Idris Ali, a lecturer at Satkhira College along with his student Saidul, and a volunteer of ‘Do Something’ took this benevolent initiative to show the world how a man’s pursuit of attending prayers can mount over earthly limitations. 

Later Do-Something provided a boat to Imam in order to facilitate his regular transportation to the mosque. In addition to that BDT 5,000 in cash was given to Imam.

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Contributors to the construction of the floating mosque

Watching the video, Engineer Nasiruddin, Chairman of 'Alhaj Shamsul Hoq Foundation', a humanitarian organization in Chittagong, took a philanthropic initiative. Considering the overall condition of Protapnagar he planned to build a floating mosque. The mosque built on a boat was designed by Dr. SMA Motakabber, a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. He is also an advisor to the Foundation.

Structure and facilities of floating mosque

The construction cost of the mosque was about five lakh taka. It took a total of 12 days to build the country's first floating mosque.

The 800-square-foot mosque can accommodate about 55 to 60 Muslim devotees standing in 8 rows to pray together. There is an arrangement to perform ablution. Four people can use this facility at a time. Furthermore, it has a water tank and a toilet. The mosque has a mic set and four sets of holy Qur'an Sharif for recitation. 

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For enhanced stability of the floating mosque, a total of 8 drums of 250 liters have been tied to the boat. 4 drums have been attached to both sides of the boat.

Summing up

This floating mosque will be further expanded in the future. When the excess water of this inundated area will abate, the floating mosque can serve the devotees of some other waterlogged mosque in a nearby flooded area. If the entire Protapnagar gets free from flood, the boat of the mosque can be given to a helpless family to make a living. The house of the mosque can be used as a medical or educational center. Overall, Bangladesh's first mosque in Satkhira is a great symbol of devotion, perseverance, and humanity.

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