Sunamganj: Standing quietly beside the flowing Dhopajan river in Surma union of Sadar upazila, the historic Hurar Kanda Jame Mosque continues to bear witness to the passage of time. Residents of Hurar Kanda village are now urging authorities to take steps to preserve the mosque, which has become an important symbol of local heritage and haor culture.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Hurar Kanda village is located in a low-lying haor region near the border of the Indian state of Meghalaya. The village dramatically transforms during the monsoon season, appearing as a small island floating on water due to rising floodwaters. The nearby Hurar Beel and the Dhopajan river, originating from the hills of Meghalaya and flowing into the Surma basin, shape the geography and livelihood of the local people.
Elderly residents recall that their ancestors settled in the village during the British colonial period. Abu Nasar, a local resident, mentioned that the forefathers, including the late Haji Bashir Uddin and Kafil Uddin, arrived from Bariya with eight brothers and established the first homesteads. Initially, the area was dense forest known as ‘Kanda,’ which was cleared by the settlers to build homes and expand the village. Presently, the community includes two mosques, a primary school, and a maktab.
Historically, fishing in the Hurar Beel was a primary livelihood for the villagers. However, strong currents from the Meghalaya hills transformed the beel into a river channel, bringing sand and stone, which became significant resources for the local economy alongside rice cultivation.
Abdul Wahab, a 90-year-old village elder, shared that the community decided to build a mosque as the population grew after the partition of the subcontinent. In 1948, Usman Gani donated land for the mosque, and the entire village collaborated on its construction. Bricks and mortar were used, with craftsmen brought from Brahmanbaria and Sylhet, resulting in a design admired for its aesthetic beauty, resembling a miniature Taj Mahal.
Over the years, the mosque has attracted visitors from various parts of Bangladesh for its architecture and serene setting. However, it now faces threats from riverbank erosion. Villagers constructed a protective wall using their resources, but further measures are needed. The mosque was severely impacted during the 2022 floods, drawing attention from journalists and visitors who documented the incident.
The lifestyle of the Hurar Kanda community mirrors the broader haor culture of Sunamganj, with boats as primary transportation during monsoons and roads reconnecting in the dry season. Residents earn their livelihood through rice farming, sand extraction, and fishing, while maintaining a lifestyle influenced by local spiritual traditions.
During Ramadan, the mosque becomes crowded with worshippers, necessitating a tin-roofed extension on the veranda for additional space. Local religious scholar Mufti Maulana Azizul Haque emphasized the mosque’s historical and emotional significance, stating that preserving it means preserving community memories and heritage.
Residents urge authorities to conserve the historic Hurar Kanda Jame Mosque, ensuring that this architectural landmark of the haor region survives for future generations.