Majidbaria Shahi Mosque

{{Short description|Ancient mosque and archaeological site in Bangladesh}}

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Majidbaria Shahi Mosque

| native_name = মজিদবাড়িয়া শাহী মসজিদ

| native_name_lang = bn

| image = মজিদবাড়িয়া শাহী মসজিদ, সম্মুখ দৃশ্য.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| caption =

| location = Mirzaganj, Patuakhali District, Barisal Division

| religious_affiliation = Islam

| country = Bangladesh

| consecration_year =

| organisational_status = Mosque

| functional_status = {{ubl|Active;|Protected}}

| heritage_designation =

| administration = Department of Archaeology

| map_type = Bangladesh

| map_size = 250

| map_alt =

| map_relief = yes

| map_caption = Location of the mosque in Bangladesh

| coordinates = {{Coord|22.2498|90.1954|region:BD_type:landmark|format=dms|display=it}}

| founded_by = Uzayr Khan

| year_completed = {{AH|870|link=yes}}

| length = {{cvt|49|ft|m|order=flip}}

| width = {{cvt|35|ft|m|order=flip}}

| dome_quantity = One

| minaret_quantity = Six

| architect =

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Mosque architecture}}

| architecture_style = Bengal Sultanate

| materials = Limestone; bricks

}}

The Majidbaria Shahi Mosque ({{langx|bn|মজিদবাড়িয়া শাহী মসজিদ}}, {{langx|ar|المسجد الشاهي مجيد باريا}}) is a mosque and archaeological site located in the village of Majidbaria in Mirzaganj Upazila, part of the Patuakhali District of southern Bangladesh.{{cite Banglapedia|article=Mirzaganj Upazila|author=Mizanur Rahman, Muhammad}} Completed during the 15th-century, it is the oldest mosque and first brick building in the Greater Barisal region having been built during the reign of Sultan Ruknuddin Barbak Shah.

History

During the reign of Sultan Ruknuddin Barbak Shah, his minister Khan-i-Azam Uzayr Khan constructed this mosque in {{AH|870|link=yes}}.

In 1584, a cyclone severely damaged infrastructure in the Bakla-Chandradwip region. During this period, the area was under the rule of Kandarpanarayan Rai, the Raja of Chandradwip, who also evacuated his capital in Bakla. Without fully recovering from the natural disaster, Chandradwip was then faced with Magh and Portuguese pirates. Muslim-dominant villages such as Madhabkhali, Mirzaganj, Bibichini, Talgachia, Maqamia, Karuna, Gulishahkhali, Ghuslkhali, Faqirkhali, Auliyapur and Dhulia were deserted and the area became covered in jungle, effectively becoming a part of the Sundarbans again.{{cite book|chapter=মসজিদবাড়ির মসজিদ, মির্জাগঞ্জ|title=বৃহত্তর বরিশালের ঐতিহাসিক নিদর্শন|trans-title=Historical sites of Greater Barisal|author=Bulbul, Saiful Ahsan|year=2012|location=Dhaka|publisher=Gotidhara|language=bn|isbn=9789848945926}}

In the 1860s, British Raj began plans to cultivate the Sundarbans and rediscovered the mosque, which was being inhabited by a fakir. The mosque was visited by Henry Beveridge, the District Magistrate of Barisal. In 1904, the interior of the mosque was renovated under Nicholas Beatson-Bell, the erstwhile District Magistrate of Backergunge district. The area then became known as Masjidbari or Masjidbaria by the locals, and later became corrupted to Majidbaria, though others claim that it was named after a local chairman named Majid.{{cite news |language=bn |work=Banglanews24.com |url=https://banglanews24.com/islam/news/bd/673977.details |date=10 September 2018 |title=৫০০ বছর পুরনো মসজিদটি হারিয়ে যাবে?}} The mosque is under the protection of the Bangladeshi Department of Archaeology,{{cite web |script-title=bn:বরিশাল বিভাগের পুরাকীর্তি |trans-title=Barisal Division |url=http://archaeology.portal.gov.bd/site/page/ccb66590-fce8-440f-ae4a-d2a3ac787929/[front |website=Department of Archaeology |access-date=29 September 2019 |language=bn}} though it continues to be actively used by worshippers.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Architecture

The mosque is built of limestone and terracotta bricks with attractive architectural style and craftsmanship. The mosque is {{convert|49|ft|m|order=flip}} long and {{convert|35|ft|m|order=flip}} wide. The main structure has three exquisitely carved mihrabs, three archways, six minars at eight corners, four windows in total on east-north and south sides, square main room and a verandah.{{cite news|language=bn|url=https://www.ekushey-tv.com/%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%A9-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6/49249|work=Ekushey TV|title=৫৫৩ বছরের পুরোনো মসজিদ|date=11 September 2018}} Apart from this, with {{convert|75|in|cm|order=flip|adj=on}} thick walls, some ancient artefacts can be seen inside this mosque such as an old chest. An ancient graveyard and lake lies to the south of the mosque, which includes the tombs of Yaqin Shah and Kala Shah.{{cite web|language=bn|url=https://vromonguide.com/place/majidbaria-shahi-masjid-patuakhali#:~:text=%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80%20%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%20%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%20%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%20%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87,%E0%A6%93%20%E0%A6%90%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%20%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%20%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%20%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%80%E0%A5%A4|work=Vromon Guide|title=মজিদবাড়িয়া শাহী মসজিদ|access-date=10 November 2022}}