Sultanate era mosque in ruin
Photos: Star File
It's a wonder how one comes across unique structures from history and that too in Chittagong.
The Hammadia mosque is one of the only two Sultani era structures in Chittagong, still standing in its original form.
The five-century-old mosque is situated at Masjidda village of Sitakunda upazila, east side of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Choto Kumira. Due to lack of initiatives from the authorities to preserve it, the unscrupulous locals have covered the beautiful antiquity with an extension building from its three sides, this covering its view.
According to historians, the mosque was built in between 1533 and 1538, during the era of the last Sultan of Gaud -- Sultan Giasuddin Mahmud Shah's reign. Historian Abdul Karim came across the mosque in 1966 and discovered it to be of the Sultanate era, based on the Arabic stone inscription. The black basalt stone inscription is still there at the entrance of the mosque.
The hut-like mosque bears the legacy of the unique architectural traits of the Sultanate era.
Karim published an article on the mosque in the Asiatic Society Journal where he mentioned-- Hamid Khan a governor of Chittagong under the sultan of Bengal built it and dug a tank in front. The mosque and tank were named after Hamid, later distorted to Hammadia by locals.
The square-shaped one-domed mosque measuring 20'11" externally and 14' internally has four minarets. There are three arch–doors on the east side and walls are more than three-feet-wide. Two of the three mehrabs are built of stone and have chain and bell motifs.
The huge tank still exists on the east.
But the mosque governing committee seems to be ignorant about its origin. For example, in the adjacent Eidgah, the mosque is eluded as of Mughal era. Negligence and carelessness could be found on every facet of the mosque.
In a recent visit, the black-basalt stone inscription has been found damaged badly. It has been painted green and some writings are not readable. The inside-walls are covered with tiles destroying motifs.
The structure under construction of the new complex will cover the unique view of the mosque. Heavy pillars have been put on the old structure at its north, south and east walls that would create immense pressure after the three-storey complex is completed. Two of the three doors have been blocked by walls.
However, Abdus Sukkur, the governing committee chairman says that the new structure would not hamper the old one and would be completed within a year.
Quoting Public Works Department documents, history researcher Shamsul Hossain says, "The mosque was even enlisted by the British government as an ancient monument to be preserved in 1896, where it was mentioned that the mosque was more than 400 years old. The mosque is one of the only two remaining buildings of sultanate era in Chittagong," he added. The other sultanate era mosque is situated in Hathazari upazila.
The Antiquities Act, 1968, (amended in 1976) states that any ancient (minimum 100 years old) product of human civilisation, illustrative of architecture, warfare, politics, or culture, can be called an article of antiquity. The government can declare an antiquity to be preserved from destruction.
There are many more of such structures that are being ignored and not taken care of. It is high time that we come together and do something to preserve our history and promote the beauty of Bengal.
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