Congregational prayers at the 136-year-old Bankra Mosque, located inside the premises of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, were suspended from Saturday after worshippers were reportedly denied entry passes. Airport authorities had not issued an official statement on the development till Saturday evening.
The mosque, formally known as Gouripur Jama Masjid, is situated within the airport complex near the secondary runway. The suspension of prayers has once again brought attention to the long-pending proposal to relocate the mosque outside the airport premises.
Relocation Proposal Linked to Airport Expansion
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has two runways, with the secondary runway located close to the mosque. Aviation authorities have previously raised concerns that the mosque’s proximity to the runway could affect future expansion plans and create operational challenges, particularly during emergencies when the secondary runway may be required for larger aircraft.
According to sources, the mosque is located around 165 metres from the runway. Officials have reportedly maintained that the structure has delayed the proposed extension of the secondary runway and raised aviation safety and security concerns.
Sources said that discussions between the West Bengal government and the Centre over relocating the mosque gained momentum after the change in the state government. Both sides have reportedly agreed in principle to shift the mosque outside the airport complex, though no official timeline or rehabilitation plan has been announced.
Mosque Committee Alleges Closure Without Notice
Reacting to the suspension of prayers, mosque committee president and former West Bengal minister Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury alleged that the authorities shut the mosque without prior intimation.
“The mosque was closed without any notice on Saturday. If there is an issue, the airport authorities should resolve it through discussions. Instead, the gates of the mosque were forcibly shut with the assistance of CISF personnel. This is unfortunate,” Chowdhury said.
He urged the authorities to engage in dialogue with the mosque committee instead of taking unilateral action.
Airport Authorities Yet to Respond
As of Saturday evening, airport authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations or clarified the reasons for stopping entry passes and suspending access to the mosque.
