Bangladeshi National Mosque Baitul Mukarram

The traditional features of Mughal architecture, the Baitul Mukarram mosque also has a number of modern architectural features. Baitul Mukarram has been specially decorated with a part built in the shape of a Kaaba

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque (Arabic: بيت المكرَّم الوطني مسجد) is the national mosque of Bangladesh. The mosque is located in Paltan, the heart of the capital Dhaka.

Another name for the capital Dhaka is "City of Mosques". The Baitul Mukarram Jame Mosque, the country's national mosque, is located in this city. It is the 10th largest mosque in the world in terms of capacity. The mosque was established in 1970. The architect of the Islamic architectural monument was Abdul Hussein Tharyani. Its area is 2694.19 square meters. The height of the highest dome of the mosque is 30.18 meters.

Construction History of Bangladeshi National Mosque Baitul Mukarram

Abdul Latif Ibrahim Bawani of then Pakistan was the first to think of a plan to build a huge capacity mosque in Dhaka. According to him, the initiative was taken to implement this plan in 1959 with the formation of "Baitul Mukarram Mosque Society"8.3 acres of land was acquired for the mosque at the confluence of Old Dhaka and New Dhaka. 

The place was also close to the main commercial centre of the city. At that time there was a large pond in the location of the mosque. Which was known as "Paltan Pond". The pond was filled and the construction of the mosque was inaugurated on January 27, 1960, by the then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan. The construction of the mosque was completed in 1968.

Abdul Hussain Tharyani, a prominent architect of Sindh, was appointed to design the mosque complex. The entire complex design includes shops, offices, libraries and car parking. Prayers were offered here for the first time on January 25, 1973 (Friday).

The Islamic Foundation Bangladesh has been maintaining the mosque since March 28, 1975. At present, the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque has eight floors. Downstairs there is a shopping mall and a large state-of-the-art market complex. Prayers are offered on each floor from the second floor to the sixth floor

The mosque was expanded in 2008 with funding from the Saudi government. Earlier, 30,000 worshipers prayed together, but now 40,000 worshipers can pray together in the mosque. The work of decoration and development of this mosque is still going on.

Bangladeshi National Mosque Building

Main building Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

Baitul Mukarram Mosque is 8 storeys high. Downstairs there are shops and a huge market. Prayers are offered on each floor from the second floor to the sixth floor. Inside the mosque, there are separate prayer rooms and a library for women with ablution arrangements.

The first floor of the mosque is 26,517, the second floor is 10,660, the third floor is 10,723, the fourth floor is 7,370, the fifth floor is 6,925 and the sixth floor is 6,438 square feet.

During Jumma and Eid, additional 39,899 square feet of prayers were offered.

In addition, there is a 6,382-square-foot prayer area for women on the north side of the third floor of the mosque.


6,425 square feet are used for men's ablutions. 880 square feet is used for women's ablution. The entrance to the mosque is 99 feet above the road.

Architectural style Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

The infrastructure of Baitul Mukarram is like a Kaaba. In addition to the traditional features of Mughal architecture, the mosque also has a number of modern architectural features. Baitul Mukarram is a special part of the Kaaba.

The exterior design of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

The mosque is quite high. The main building is eight storeys high and 30.18 meters or 99 feet high from the ground. The colour of the main building is white. According to the original design, the main entrance to the mosque should be on the east side. The eastern side is 2694.19 square meters. There are places for ablution on its south and north sides. To the north and south, the lack of domes on the main building has been eliminated by constructing two small domes on the verandah to enter the mosque.

Interior design Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

The porches entering the mosque have three horse-shaped arches, the middle of which is larger than the two adjoining ones. Two open courtyards (roofless inner courtyard) control the light and air circulation in the main prayer room. The arch of the main prayer room surrounded by a verandah on three sides is rectangular in shape with an area of ​​2463.51 square meters. Excessive decoration has been avoided throughout the mosque.