Bangladesh Railway has allocated land for two mosques and one temple in Joar Sahara mouza of the capital’s Khilkhet area.
The land allocation letters were formally handed over today (Wednesday) at a ceremony held at the Railway Bhaban.
The event was attended by Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Railways Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan; Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A. F. M. Khalid Hossain; Primary and Mass Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar; Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Road Transport and Railways Dr. Sheikh Moin Uddin; Secretary of the Railway Ministry Md. Fahimul Islam; Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md. Afzal Hossain; Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager Md. Mohiuddin Arif; President of Dhaka Metropolitan Sarbojanin Puja Committee Jayanta Kumar Deb; Secretary General of Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajot Advocate Gobinda Chandra Pramanik; local mosque imams, temple representatives, residents of Khilkhet, and senior officials of the Railway Ministry and Bangladesh Railway.
According to the allocation, Khilkhet Railway Jame Mosque has been granted 0.2011 acres (8,760 sq. ft.), An-Noor Jame Mosque 0.0552 acres (2,405 sq. ft.), and Khilkhet Sarbojanin Sri Sri Durga Temple 0.0562 acres (2,450 sq. ft.). The land was allocated at Bangladesh Railway’s symbolic fixed price.
Speaking at the event, Adviser Faozul Kabir Khan recalled past disputes over unauthorized religious structures on railway land. He explained that both temples and mosques faced similar challenges, which led to the decision to allocate land officially to ensure fairness and communal harmony.
Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A. F. M. Khalid Hossain described the initiative as a landmark example of communal harmony in Bangladesh. He stressed that Bangladesh is a role model of interfaith coexistence, adding that any attempt to desecrate places of worship should be seen as the act of miscreants rather than religious communities. He urged locals and religious leaders to jointly resist activities that may undermine harmony and warned that law enforcement would take strict action if necessary.
He further assured that the ministry would assist in reclaiming Hindu temple properties that have been illegally occupied, provided no legal disputes are pending in court.
Primary and Mass Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar praised Bangladesh Railway’s initiative as “a unique and exceptional move” that reflects the inclusive dream of a discrimination-free Bangladesh.Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Sarbojanin Puja Committee President Jayanta Kumar Deb expressed gratitude to the railway authorities, terming the decision “a historic event.”
