Star Mosque, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Star Mosque

Star Mosque is situated in Abdul Khairat Road, Armanitola, within the old a part of Dhaka City. The mosque isn't dated by any inscription. it's known that one Mirza Golam Pir, whose ancestors had come to Dhaka and settled in Mohalla Ale Abu Sayeed (present-day Armanitola), erected it. Mirza Golam Pir died in 1860, and hence the date of construction of the mosque may conveniently be placed within the half of the 19th century.

Originally it had been an oblong (10.06m x 4.04m) three-domed mosque. there have been three mihrabs on the Qibla wall up alignment with the three doorways of the mosque, of which the central one was larger than the side ones. The prayer chamber was roofed with three domes, the central one being taller and bigger than the opposite two. The domes are carried within the interior on squinches. the first mosque building wasn't as decorated because it is now. The dilapidated plain and naked wall of the western side bears witness to the plainness of the past. The three southern doorways of the mosque are not any doubt the old ones.

Inside of  Star Mosque

In 1926 an area businessman named Alijan Bepari added a verandah to the mosque on its eastern side, thereby almost doubling the width of the mosque without changing its original plan. Five arches were erected on four pillars on the eastern facade of the verandah. He also financed its resurfacing with delicate and richly coloured tiles of variegated patterns.

In 1987 the three-domed mosque was transformed into a five-domed mosque. at the present , the length and breadth of the mosque is 21.34m and 7.98m respectively. Some changes happened in its plan; one mihrab was demolished and two new domes and three new mihrabs were added. Five arched doorways provide entrance to the mosque. The multifold arches originate from octagonal pillars.

The mosque, both inside and out of doors , is decorated with mosaic. Small chips of Chinaware-plate, cup etc and pieces of glass are used for mosaic. this sort of mosaic is named 'Chini Tikri' work. Vase with flowers is a crucial decorative motif on the spandrel of the arches et al. on the facade. Flower-vases, flower branches, rosset, crescent, star, and Arabic calligraphic writing are utilized in the decoration of the mosque. The outer wall between the doors is decorated with the motif of Fujisan (Mount Fuji) on glazed tiles and a crescent-and-star design decorates the upper a part of the facade. many blue stars are created on the domes of white marble. everywhere the mosque the motif of stars dominate the decoration then the mosque is named the Star Mosque (Tara Masjid). [Ayesha Begum]