Photo : BSS

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, March 4, 2026 (BSS) - Standing gracefully on the western bank of Khania Dighi in Shibganj upazila of the district, the historic Khania Dighi Mosque continues to bear witness to nearly 500 years of Bengal's architectural and cultural heritage. 

Built during the Sultanate period, the centuries-old structure remains a silent testament to the region's rich past, drawing historians, devotees and visitors eager to glimpse a remarkable chapter of Bengal's architectural legacy.

Also known as Rajbibi Mosque, Khanjan Dighi Mosque, or Chamchika Mosque, the medieval structure remains a major attraction for history enthusiasts, nature lovers and both domestic and international tourists.

Located at the northern end of the ancient Jannatbad Nagar in Pirojpur village under Shahbazpur union, the mosque is about 85 kilometers from Rajshahi city and 35 kilometers from Chapainawabganj's Bishwa Road intersection. 

Although public buses do not directly access the site due to the lack of proper roads, visitors can reach nearby points by bus, microbus, CNG or auto rickshaw.

Though no definitive inscription confirms the exact construction date, a verse engraved on the central mihrab and its architectural features suggest that the mosque was built around 1480 AD during the second phase of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty of Bengal.

Constructed with brick and stone, the mosque features a square prayer chamber measuring approximately nine meters on each side, accompanied by a nine-meter-long eastern veranda. The main prayer hall is crowned with a large central dome, while three smaller domes rise above the veranda-an architectural arrangement considered unique and more refined than conventional single-domed square mosques of Bengal.

The mosque contains three mihrabs inside the prayer room, with the central one larger and projecting outward. The qibla wall is entirely faced with granite stone blocks and decorated with three semicircular mihrabs adorned with fluted arches, traces of which remain visible today.

Distinctive octagonal towers rise from the four corners of the mosque and extend to the roofline, with two additional towers marking the junction between the prayer hall and veranda. These segmented towers reflect the style typical of the Bengal Sultanate period.

Although much of the original terracotta ornamentation has faded over time, remnants of moulded cornices, arched panels and decorative window-like motifs still highlight its former splendor. 

Similar decorative styles can be found in other Sultanate-era monuments such as the Eklakhi Mausoleum, Tantipara Mosque and Choto Sona Mosque.

Experts said that the mosque's architectural design-particularly the combination of a single-domed prayer chamber with a three-domed eastern veranda-resembles certain Seljuk and Ottoman-era mosques of Anatolia, suggesting possible artistic influences that reached Bengal during that period.

The mosque is surrounded by several important historical landmarks, including Darasbari Mosque, Tahkhana Complex and the shrine of Shah Niamatullah, making the area a significant heritage tourism zone.

Visitors come not only to offer prayers but also to explore the rich architectural legacy of the region. Sanarul Ali from Naogaon said he had long heard of the mosque and was delighted to finally see it in person.

However, locals expressed concern about inadequate infrastructure. Anarul Islam of Shahbazpur union said that tourists face difficulties due to the lack of proper roads, toilets and rest facilities.

Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ashiq Ahmed assured that necessary measures would be taken to preserve the Khaniadighi Mosque and other historic structures in the region.

With its 500-year-old legacy, Khania Dighi Mosque stands not only as a place of worship but as a proud symbol of Bangladesh's cultural heritage and architectural brilliance, continuing to draw admiration from visitors at home and abroad.