Dhaka: Bangladesh Railway has allotted land for two mosques and a temple in the capital’s Joar Sahara Mouza in Khilkhet and Cantonment areas. Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager Md Mohiuddin Arif handed over the allotment papers to the management committees of the mosques and temple at a function held at the Railway Bhaban.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the allocation includes 0.2011 acre (8,760 sq ft) for Khilkhet Railway Jame Mosque, 0.0552 acre (2,405 sq ft) for An-Noor Jame Mosque, and 0.0562 acre (2,450 sq ft) for Khilkhet Sarbajanin Sri Sri Durga Temple, all located in Joar Sahara Mouza. The lands have been provided in exchange for a symbolic price determined by Bangladesh Railway.
The event was attended by several notable figures, including Railway Ministry Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Religious Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain, and Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder. They were joined by other officials such as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser in the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Dr Sheikh Moinuddin, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam, Secretary to the Ministry of Railways Md Fahimul Islam, and Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Afzal Hossain.
During the ceremony, Railway Ministry Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan emphasized the importance of maintaining communal harmony among all religions, warning that anyone attempting to disrupt this peace would face strict legal consequences. Religious Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain praised the allocation as a unique example of communal harmony, highlighting Bangladesh’s role as a model of religious amity. Additionally, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder commended Bangladesh Railway for this initiative.