Kolkata Airport suspends entry to 136-year-old Bankra Mosque indefinitely amid relocation row

The suspension of public access to the historic Bankra Mosque, also known as Gouripur Jame Masjid, inside Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has triggered a political controversy.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has backed the decision, saying national security must come first. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, has accused the BJP of acting without consulting the local Muslim community.

Airport authorities have stopped issuing entry passes to devotees, effectively suspending congregational prayers at the 136-year-old mosque.

Officials said the decision follows security concerns raised by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which questioned the practice of allowing worshippers to enter the airport's operational area using Aadhaar cards alone.

Initially, authorities had attributed the closure to repairs on the approach road damaged by heavy rain and had indicated that prayers could resume after the work was completed.
However, despite the repairs being finished, officials later clarified that access would remain suspended until further notice because of security-related issues.

The mosque is located within the airport premises, close to the secondary runway.

Aviation authorities have long argued that its presence limits plans to extend the runway and delays the installation of advanced Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), which are crucial for aircraft operations during Kolkata's dense winter fog.

Officials have also maintained that expanding the secondary runway is essential to improve operational flexibility, particularly when the main runway is unavailable for maintenance.

Security concerns and airport expansion

Backing the move, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stressed that national security must remain the government's top priority.

The BJP has maintained that relocating the mosque is necessary not only to strengthen airport security but also to facilitate long-pending infrastructure expansion.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar alleged that successive governments had failed to address the issue due to ‘appeasement politics’.

He argued that relocating the mosque would remove a major obstacle to runway expansion and improve aviation safety.

BJP leaders also claimed there was no justification for allowing a place of worship to remain inside such a sensitive operational zone.

State BJP leader Keya Ghosh echoed the party's position, saying the government's decision was driven by passenger safety. She also claimed that some local imams were agreeable to shifting the mosque if an alternative arrangement was provided.

TMC calls for dialogue, alleges force

The TMC, however, has criticised both the suspension of entry and the proposed relocation, accusing the BJP of trying to impose its decision without consulting stakeholders.

TMC MP Sougata Roy said any decision regarding the mosque should be taken only after discussions with the local Muslim community.

Rejecting the BJP's claim that the move was purely about passenger safety, Roy argued that the primary objective was runway expansion.

He warned that unilateral action could trigger unrest and said many residents were anxious about the developments.

Former West Bengal minister and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury has also sought clarity from airport authorities regarding when prayers may resume.

Community representatives are expected to discuss their next course of action while awaiting an official response.

The Bankra Mosque is believed to be older than Kolkata airport itself and has remained inside the airport's operational area for decades.

Authorities are yet to announce whether a new access mechanism will be introduced or whether public entry to the mosque will remain permanently suspended, leaving the future of the historic structure uncertain.