Religious Affairs Advisor Khalid says building mosque at Chandranath Hill is ‘out of question’

The debate arises from a Facebook post, alleging a mosque on top of the hill is “90 percent confirmed”

Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain has dismissed reports of any new mosque construction at Chandranath Hill in Chattogram, saying such an initiative is “out of question”.

He made the remarks during a Waqf-related meeting at the Chattogram Circuit House on Wednesday.

“No initiative has been taken to construct any mosque at Sitakunda’s Chandranath Hill, and the news being circulated in this regard is completely baseless. The Sitakunda administration has informed us that Chandranath Hill is a historic and religiously significant site for the country.”

“Preserving communal harmony is of utmost importance here. Therefore, constructing any new mosque on this hill is out of the question. I urge all concerned not to spread misleading information that creates confusion. The government is committed to upholding religious harmony and peace,” he said.

The statement followed a controversy sparked on Aug 15 when a businessman from Dhaka, MM Saiful Islam, visited Chandranath Hill and posted a photograph on Facebook with Hifazat-e Islam leader Harun Izhar, writing: “A mosque on top of Sitakunda Hill is 90 percent confirmed.”

The post led to discontent among members of the Hindu community.

In response, the Sitakunda Shrine Committee, which oversees the management of temples in the area, contacted the local administration.

On Aug 17, Harun clarified through his own Facebook post: “Some young religious scholars and entrepreneurs from Dhaka paid me a visit while I was about to leave for a trip. We spoke for only a few minutes. They never expressed any intention of building a mosque in the Chandranath Temple area.”

“They merely said a mosque for tourists would be useful in an appropriate location, and they were willing to fund it. I welcomed the idea, and I also believe that a prayer room may be established at the Eco Park portion, in consultation with the administration, for the benefit of Muslim tourists.”

“But a certain quarter is running propaganda contrary to reality to incite the Hindu community. I urge everyone not to spread misinformation that stirs religious tensions,” he said.

On Aug 17, Sitakunda Upazila administrator (UNO) Md Fakhrul Islam, along with local police officials and leaders of the Shrine Committee, visited Chandranath Hill.

Following the inspection, the UNO issued a press release saying: “Today (Aug 17), the administration inspected the Chandranath Temple area and found no evidence of any mosque construction.”

“The Hindu community is being assured that no permission has been granted by the administration to build a mosque in the temple area. Any attempt to spread rumours, propaganda, or misinformation on social media to disrupt communal harmony and the peaceful environment of Sitakunda will be dealt with according to law.”

Chandranath Hill, dotted with many ancient Hindu temples, is a major pilgrimage site. Believed to have origins between the sixth and eight centuries, the Chandranath Temple is particularly significant.