Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari backs move to stop entry to Bankra Mosque inside Kolkata airport operational area

The move comes after airport authorities stopped issuing entry passes to the century-old Gauripur Jama Masjid, popularly known as the Bankra Mosque or Bakra Mosque, from Saturday.

 

Congregational prayers at the mosque have also been suspended while discussions continue over relocating the structure outside the airport premises.

CM emphasises national security

Addressing the controversy, Adhikari said the strategic location of Kolkata's international airport made security a top priority.

"National security and the security of the airport will gain priority over everything else. As a chief minister, I will not comment further. The location of Kolkata International Airport is critical since both China and Bangladesh are close by. It cannot keep its gates open for outsiders," he said.

The Chief Minister also rejected allegations that the government was preventing religious practices.

"We have not stopped anyone from practising their religion, unlike what they (the opposition) said about us. Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) was observed adhering to animal slaughter laws, Muharram was observed without brandishing weapons, and there was no problem," he said.

"Obey the law and act as good citizens. Observe your religions as a personal matter, without trying to influence others. Then everything will run smoothly," Adhikari added.

Access suspended amid security concerns

The Bankra Mosque, believed to be more than 136 years old, is located within the airport's operational zone, around 165 metres from the secondary runway.

Airport authorities have maintained for years that the mosque's location presents operational challenges.

According to officials, the structure affects runway expansion plans and could pose difficulties for aircraft operations, particularly if the primary runway is unavailable due to maintenance.

They have also said the second runway cannot be fully upgraded while the mosque remains in its present location.

Following the suspension of entry passes, police and security personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

The Bankra Mosque is located about 165 metres from the Kolkata airport runway. Photo: Google Maps

Union minister, BJP MLA support relocation

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar also backed the decision, saying previous governments had failed to address the issue.

"Ever since I was a student, I used to read in the newspaper that due to a mosque at Kolkata airport, the runway cannot be constructed, and no previous government interfered due to appeasement politics... Now that our government is in power, we don't believe in appeasement politics. The mosque will be relocated," he said.

BJP MLA Sourav Sikdar, whose North Dum Dum Assembly constituency includes the airport, reiterated concerns over security and airport operations.

He alleged that visitors entering the mosque did not require the same level of verification as other people accessing secured airport areas.

"An airport is a restricted area. Any person entering the airport has to obtain a biometric pass with a photograph. This mosque is located in the highest-security area, known as Level 3," Sikdar said.

He noted that the airport handles the movement of VVIPs, including the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, as well as lakhs of passengers every month, adding that his party had repeatedly raised the issue with the authorities.

BJP West Bengal state president Samik Bhattacharya supported the "bold" move in the "interest of Bengal's development".

In an X post, Bhattacharya wrote, "I welcome the bold decision in the interest of West Bengal's development. Kolkata is not just the gateway to eastern India; it is one of the country's foremost economic and strategic hubs. So, to elevate Kolkata Airport to the level of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, there is no alternative but to build modern infrastructure."

"By issuing directives to relocate the mosque to a suitable alternative site, the government has prioritised development, safety, and public interest," he added. "Recent reports have indicated that the relocation process is underway as part of the airport's security and expansion plans."

Mosque committee opposes suspension of prayers

Siddiqullah Chowdhury, president of the mosque committee and a former minister in the previous Mamata Banerjee government, opposed the suspension of prayers, arguing that discussions over the mosque's future were already in progress.

"The mosque has been there for more than 136 years, and there is an ongoing discussion on this issue. We are open to any amicable solution, and there was no need to stop entries for namaz," Chowdhury told the media.

Govt says runway development should continue

West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh said the mosque's location within the airport operational area had long affected infrastructure development.

"There was no justification for the mosque being located where it was. It had been deliberately allowed to remain within the runway area. Prayers have now been stopped there as well. I believe they will vacate the site so that the runway extension work can proceed smoothly," Ghosh said.

The Bankra Mosque predates the airport itself and has remained within the airport's operational area as aviation infrastructure expanded over the decades.

Authorities from the Airports Authority of India and the state government are continuing discussions on relocating the structure while addressing operational, security and community concerns.