Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque is one of the most significant religious landmarks of Bangladesh and a symbol of Islamic heritage in the heart of Dhaka. Inspired by the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, its distinctive cubic structure sets it apart from traditional dome-shaped mosques. The eight-storey mosque complex can accommodate around 40,000 worshippers at a time, making it the largest mosque in Bangladesh and one of the largest in the world.

Its history dates back to 1959, when Haji Abdul Latif Bawany, owner of the then Bawany Jute Mills, proposed the construction of a grand mosque in Dhaka. With support from Major General Omrao Khan, the Baitul Mukarram Mosque Committee was formed and approximately 8.30 acres of land between Old and New Dhaka were selected. The site once contained a large waterbody known as Paltan Pond, which was filled for construction.

Architect Abdulhusein M. Thariani designed the mosque complex. On 27 January 1960, then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan formally inaugurated the construction, and the first Friday prayer was held on 25 January 1963.

The original plan included shops, offices, libraries and parking facilities alongside the prayer areas. Its dome-less main prayer hall was an innovative architectural concept for its time, while the overall design reflects elements of Islamic and Mughal architectural traditions. In 2008, the mosque was further expanded with financial assistance from the Saudi government.

Today, Baitul Mukarram is more than a place of worship. Daily prayers, Friday congregations, Eid prayers and major Islamic programmes bring thousands of people together here. It remains deeply connected with the religious, cultural and spiritual life of Bangladesh.