A mosque is being built on the land of the Heritage Kantajiu Temple, MP Zakaria in the background.

Zakaria Jaka, the current Member of Parliament of Dinajpur-1 Constituency, is cooperating in this work, laid the foundation stone of the construction of the mosque despite knowing everything on March 1.

Bangladesh: To change the Hindu nature of Kantajiu temple premises in Dinajpur, an illegal Mosque is coming up under the patronage of a local Muslim MP. 

Rajat Subhra  Das | HENB | Dhaka | March 24, 2024:: Resentment of minority Hindus in Bangladesh cropped up as allegations of building a mosque on the land of the traditional Kantajiu temple at Kaharol in Dinajpur came to surface. There are complaints that a Mosque is being constructed by creating fake documents from the office of the District Commissioner, only to change the Hindu nature of age old Kantajiu shrine premises. In Kantnagar village, there is pent-up anger among Sanatani Hindus over the construction of a mosque on the land of Raj Devottar Estate. Locals complain that Zakaria Jaka, the current Member of Parliament of Dinajpur-1 Constituency, is cooperating in this work, and laid the foundation stone of the construction of the mosque despite knowing everything on March 1. MP Zakaria is a first time MP who won the Dinajpur-1 seat in this year as an independent candidate. Sources say that he has close connections with radical Jamat groups.

Ranjit Kumar Singh, representative  of Dinajpur Raj Devottar Estate, has filed a written complaint with the District Commissioner seeking to stop the construction work. The district and upazila (sub-district) administration says that the construction work has been stopped after the complaint. The decision will be made after the verification of the documents of both the parties. However, local people complain that the construction of the mosque is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Parishad has expressed deep concern over the illegal construction of a mosque on the sacred land of the historic Kantajiu Temple in Dinajpur, a holy pilgrimage site for Hindus rich in antiquity. The leaders of the Parishad sought the intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to protect the existence of the temple.

Dinajpur District Superintendent of Police Shah Iftekhar Ahmed told HENB that an attempt was being made to build a mosque by paving the permanent infrastructure on the disputed land next to the temple. The district administration and police have verified the documents and suspended the work.

The Superintendent of Police said that due to the incident, the police and the local administration are alert so that no one can spread rumors and worsen the law and order situation. The overall situation is now normal.

Kantanagar Temple, commonly known as Kantaji Temple or Kantajiu Temple  at Kantanagar, is a Hindu temple in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The Kantajew Temple is a religious edifice belonging to the 18th century. The temple belongs to the  Kanta or Krishna and this is most popular with the Radha-Krishna cult (assemble of divine love) of Vaishnavism in Bengal. This temple is dedicated to Krishna and his wife Rukmini. Built by Maharaja Pran Nath, its construction started in 1704 CE and ended in the reign of his son Raja Ramnath in 1722 CE. It is an example of terracotta architecture in Bangladesh and once had nine spires, but all were destroyed in an earthquake that took place in 1897. Now the Heritage temple is under the protection of the archaeological department though the daily worship is maintained as per Hindu rituals. 

On Friday, Ranjit Kumar Singh told HENB that this mosque is being built on the land of Kantjiu Temple in Kantanagar Mauza. But there is no land record in their name. He said, I saw on the news that there was no construction work on Friday. But if you work in the dark of night, who will stop you?

People of minority Hindu community who are angry with the construction of a mosque on the land of the temple say that this Kantjiu temple is a holy place of pilgrimage for Sanatan religious people with rich heritage. The vast land of the temple has been lying vacant for a long time. On this occasion, a group built a mosque with tin sheds in advance. Now the initiative has been taken to construct a building there. They also alleged that a group is trying to destroy the communal harmony of the area through this.

Meanwhile, local Muslims say that the owner of this land is ‘Kantanagar village Jame Masjid’ due to litigation and compromise, which is nothing but a fraud.

On March 13, the agent of Raj Debottar Estate, Ranjit Kumar Singh, in a written complaint submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, said, “The CS No. 2 Khatian in Kantanagar Mauza of Kaharol Upazila of the district is circulated in the name of Honorable Maharaja Jagdish Nath Roy, served on behalf of Sri Sri Kantajiu Vigraha.” 94.07 acres of land in the name of Kantajiu Vigrahar in that khatian. SA No. 05 Khatian holding 62.46 acres of land in 19 dags on behalf of Dinajpur Raj Debottar Estate Zimmadar Deputy Commissioner. Land rent is up to date in Bengal 1430. On March 10 came to know that a paved mosque is being built on the property of Raj Devottar Estate at Plot No. 16 of Kantanagar Mauza. After hearing this, I visited the site of the mosque under construction on March 11, and saw that the mosque is being constructed on Plot No. 16 of SA No. 5 Khatian of Raj Devotar Estate, Kantanagar Mauza.

It is also said in the written complaint, “Mozammel Haque, the secretary of the mosque committee, who was present at the scene, asked how Raj Debottar is constructing a mosque on the estate, he said that the land was given to them by DC Dinajpur in 1976. When asked to see the document, he gave a photocopy of a handwritten three-page affidavit. After verifying the said apasnama, it is not an allotment. It is not a registered land deed. The document does not mention any transfer of ownership. The ‘apasnama‘ (mutual contract) in question seems fake and contrived.

From the context of the whole situation, it is clear that the Islamist forces in Kaharol are exerting their power with the patronage of the member of parliament, Zakaria Jaka and the local administration in a connivance.

This is clear from the version of Abdus Salam, President of  Mosque Committee. Salam said to HENB, “There was already a small mud-hut mosque here. Now the Mosque is being constructed with a three-storey foundation by collecting a contribution of Bangladeshi Taka 25 lakhs. Earlier there was a court case regarding this place. At that time the order of the case asked both the parties to compromise. On that basis, the mosque owns 8 percent of the land based on an apasnama (mutual contract) dated 13.06.1976″.

Construction of Mosque in Kantajiu Temple Premises started but withheld now.

But, according to 51 DLR of 1999 of the Land and Property Act, the inheritance Devottar (land on by deities) is not transferable, it is inheritance for all time.

When asked about the present situation, Kaharol upazila executive officer. Aminul Islam told HENB that the investigation is ongoing. “I have instructed the mosque committee to stop work until the investigation is over. It is a property of Devottar, investigation is ongoing” he said.

Though  the construction work of the Mosque is currently stopped, the minority Hindus are afraid whether another Mosque will come up within the premises of renowned Kantajiu Temple premises in Dinajpur under the communal influence of radical people in an ‘Islamic Bangladesh. Islamist land grabbers in Bangladesh have their permanent agenda to encroach temple lands of Hindu minorities.

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__Inputs from Kalbela.