Bangladesh Railway has allocated land for two mosques and one temple in the capital’s Joar Sahara area.
Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager Mohiuddin Arif formally handed over the allotment letters to the respective management committees at an event at Rail Bhaban on Wednesday.
According to the allocation, Khilkhet Railway Jame Mosque has received 0.2011 acres (8,760 sq ft), An-Noor Jame Mosque 0.0552 acres (2,405 sq ft), and Khilkhet Sarbojonin Sri Sri Durga Temple 0.0562 acres (2,450 sq ft).
“The land has been provided in exchange for a symbolic fee determined by Bangladesh Railway,” said a press release.
Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain, and Education Adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, among others, spoke at the event.
Fouzul Kabir Khan said: “Bangladesh is a land of religious harmony. Anyone attempting to disrupt this will face strict legal consequences.”
Religious affairs adviser AFM Khalid Hossain termed the initiative a “unique example of communal harmony”, adding that Bangladesh remains a role model of interfaith coexistence despite occasional isolated incidents.
He also pledged support in recovering Hindu endowment properties that have been unlawfully occupied but remain free of legal disputes.
A press briefing followed the handover ceremony, where Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam responded to questions from journalists.
