Bangladesh: Plans to Build Mosque on 1400-Year-Old Temple Spark Outrage Among Hindu Community

A controversy has erupted in Bangladesh after reports of a mosque being planned on Chandranath Hill, a famous Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The hill is home to temples believed to be around 1,400 years old. The issue began when a man named Saiful Islam posted on Facebook demanding the construction of a mosque there and even called for financial support online. His posts quickly went viral, sparking anger in the Hindu community. However, local authorities have clarified that no permission will be given to build a mosque on the hill.

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After the issue came to light, the local administration visited the Chandranath Temple. The Upazila Executive Officer Fakhrul Islam said that a tourist, after roaming on the hill, got delayed for prayers. Because of this, he felt the need for a mosque and posted on Facebook. As soon as this issue spread on social media, we carried out campaigns for communal harmony and denied the news of mosque construction here.

On August 15, Dhaka-based shoe trader M.M. Saiful Islam went for a walk on Chandranath Hill in Sitakunda, Chattogram. After returning from the hill, he wrote on his Facebook account, “In a country where 93% of people are Muslims, there is a temple on the peak of Sitakunda Chandranath Hill, but why not a mosque? Yet, among the tourists I have seen, 98% are Muslims. After this, in another post, Saiful said, “You did not allow me and my companion to pray, so I will definitely build a place of prayer on Sitakunda Hill, whether it is today or tomorrow.”

The next day, Saiful made another post about the incident on Facebook. – It read, “90% permanent mosque on the peak of Sitakunda Hill.” After this incident, there is anger among the local Hindu community. Now Saiful’s Facebook ID is showing deactivated. Attempts to contact Saiful also failed.

Why is Chandranath Temple important?

There are several temples of deities located on Chandranath Hill in Sitakunda. These temples are regarded as sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus. At the summit of Chandranath Hill stands a Shiva temple, which draws thousands of visitors from across the country each day to admire both its spiritual significance and natural beauty. The hill is home to numerous monasteries and temples, and every year during the month of Falgun, the grand Shiv Chaturdashi fair is held here, attracting devotees and pilgrims in large numbers. Saints and sages from India and abroad come to this fair.

The local pilgrimage committee said that a king of Nepal had built Shiva temples in many places around the world. The Shiva temple situated on Chandranath Hill is one of them. A member of the temple committee stated that King Chandranath of Nepal built this temple sometime between 600 and 800 AD. According to Hindu scriptures, this site is known as Sitakunda, where Lord Ram and Goddess Sita are believed to have bathed. At the peak of Chandranath Hill, the revered Shiva temple stands, visible to all who make the ascent.  Inside the temple, there is a Shivling. The temple committee claims that in the past few years, the number of tourists visiting Chandranath Hill has increased.