Bagha mosque, Rajshahi

Bagha Mosque

Bagha Mosque (Bengali: বাঘা মসজিদ) is a larger and old mosque among all mosques in Bangladesh. Bagha Mosque also known as Ten-domed Bagha Shahi Mosque. Bagha Mosque is a terracotta art-impregnated exceptional monument of Bangladesh. Bagha Upazila is a small town and an Upazila under Rajshahi district. It is bounded by charghat and bagatipara upazilas on the north, daulatpur (kushtia) upazila on the south, lalpur (natore) and Bagatipara upazilas on the east, west bengal (India) and Padma river on the west. Bagha Upazila is mostly familiar for this mosque.

Bagha Mosque was located 40 kilometers away from south-east of Rajshahi city. It was founded by Nasir Uddin Nasrat Shah in 1523-24 A.D. The mosque is surrounded by a boundary wall from all sides, and two entrances at the north and the south side. This mosque is one of the most art decorated mosque in Rajshahi division.

Bagha Mosque

The mosque is about 8 to 10 feet high from the ground level. The mosque has 10 domes and 6 pillars inside. The mosque has 4 Mehrab. They are adorned with great artistry. Outside the mosque, four square octagonal towers are very remarkable to see. This mosque has been renovated several times. In 1897, an earthquake damaged all the domes including east wall of the mosque. Again domes were constructed including the roof.  The qibla wall contains four mihrab (niches). In the northwest corner of the Mosque an extra prayer room can be seen placed at the top level. It is believed that it was built for the Sultan’s Governor.

Such similar type of prayer room can be found in Kusumba Mosque in Manda upazila under Naogaon district.

There is a large lake will be found in front of the mosque. It is on 52 bighas of land have been excavated. Lots of birds in the winter season comes to the pond and it increases its beauty. Picture of this mosque have been printed on one side of 50 Taka’s Bangladeshi note.

Photo: Rumon Anam