Bangladesh had launched a project back in 2017 to build 564 model mosques across the country, which would serve as Islamic cultural hubs, hajj registration centres and library facilities, but the initiative has fallen short despite tall promises.
This project will be completed by June 2024, but it witnessed only 58 per cent progress at the end of FY23 – as opposed to the targeted 88 per cent. So far, 200 model mosques have been built in the country, but the already built establishments lack key promised facilities.
These observations were made in an In-Depth Monitoring Report by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Ministry, which was recently published on the division’s website.
For preparing the report, 175 sample model mosques out of 564 mosques were visited. The Ministry of Religious Affairs is implementing this project with support from the Public Works Department and Islamic Foundation Bangladesh.
The construction of the rest of the mosques would hardly be possible within the June 2024 deadline, and those already built lack facilities. Many such mosques have been built at improper locations due to a lack of pre-implementation feasibility study.
This report also raises questions regarding the quality of model mosque construction, which lacks utilisation of adequate manpower, and proper monitoring, causing the project to progress sluggishly.
Project objectives
The project aims to build 564 mosques with an overall area of 2 lakh square meters, where around 4,43,640 men and 31,800 women will be able to offer prayers. There will be library facilities for 34,200 readers and research opportunities for 6,850 researchers.
It also aims to offer a facility to conduct religious dawat (invitation) programmes for 56,400 Muslims daily.
The project plans to create Quran memorisation facilities for 14,100 people every year, provide pre-primary education to 16,920 children every year, and offer accommodation facilities for 2,256 guests.
These model mosques are expected to facilitate the digital registration of 50 per cent of total Hajj pilgrims in the country and create public awareness to prevent terrorism and violence against women through khatibs and imams.
Such facilities will serve as Islamic cultural centres, and would work for nurturing and promoting Islamic values through the extension of Islamic life and culture. Such targets have remained unfulfilled in the 200 already built model mosques, mentions the IMED report.
IMED observations
According to the report, the 200 model mosques currently have no facility for women to offer their prayers.
Besides, digital registration of local Hajj pilgrims was supposed to be offered, but it has not started yet. Despite there being rooms for guests to stay overnight, they are less likely to be used. A lot of basement space remains unused as well.
The mosques were supposed to have libraries and local imams and muezzins should have started Quran lessons for students and religious dawat activities, but those are yet to be implemented.
Although the construction of new mosques has created employment opportunities for imams, muezzins and khatibs, the honorarium given to them is low, the report revealed.
In many cases, no road has been constructed that connects the mosque to the main roads. IMED feared that the property of the mosque would be destroyed due to the absence of security walls and guards and the lack of regular maintenance.
Apart from this, the quality of the construction failed to reach expectations, read the report, adding that construction did not follow the specifications in several places, including the roof casting, column casting, and window grill work.
The mosques also have sub-par quality electrical equipment. In many places, construction materials were stored unsafely, which is compromising their quality. The tiles of some mosques were broken.
Also, the project has been audited three times, and four audit objections worth Tk 30.68 lakh have been found so far. The IMED report highlighted that the audit objections are in the process of resolution.
‘IMED observations lacking’
Public Works Department’s Additional Chief Engineer Md Nazibar Rahman, who is serving as the model mosque project director, told The Business Post, “The model mosques need over 8,500 staff. Each establishment will need 13 employees including imams and muezzins.
“How can these mosques deliver on the promises without having the required manpower? We have already started the recruitment process.”
He further said, “The IMED is supposed to provide observations on the model mosque project’s aims and targets. They are supposed to voice observations and recommendations on the project construction process.
“The project’s implementation and funding was sluggish due to the Covid-19 crisis. We might need another year to complete the initiative. The costs might also go up as the price of construction materials have increased significantly.”
Commenting on the overall quality of construction, Nazibar said, “The issues are minor. We are working to resolve such problems where they are needed. The IMED observation is lacking in many aspects.”
The project initially had 560 model mosques, and four more were added to cover four new upazilas – Eidgah in Cox’s Bazar, Chaser in Madaripur, Shaistaganj in Habiganj, Madhyanagar in Sunamganj.
Project details
The Ministry of Religious Affairs initiated the project titled “Installation Project of 560 Model Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centres in each Districts and Upazilas (2nd revision)” as part of the Prime Minister's election manifesto.
Under the project, four-storey mosques and Islamic cultural centres were being constructed in 64 districts and five City Corporations, and 16 coastal areas, and three-storey establishments in 479 upazilas.
With support from the Saudi government, the cost of the project was estimated at Tk 9,062.41 crore in April 2017 and initially, the completion date of the project was in December 2019.
Later, due to the lack of support from the Saudi government, the first amendment of the project reduced the costs to Tk 8,722 crore. Then the second amendment increased the cost to Tk 9,435 crore while the time was extended to June 2024.
IMED recommendations
The IMED has recommended increasing monitoring, construction of boundary walls, and the appointment of guards for the safety of the mosque's worshipers and assets.
It also suggested the appointment of adequate manpower and more financial allocation for regular maintenance of the mosques, and recommended selecting the right contractors to maintain the quality of work and regular inspection of the project areas.
