Closed cinema hall turns Tablighi 'Markaz mosque'

The long-closed Alpona cinema hall building in Kalia upazila of Narail has begun to be used as a Tablighi centre, functioning as a Markaz mosque.

On Wednesday afternoon, an organisation called Aalmi Shura Nizam hung a banner in front of the building reading “Kalia Upazila Tablighi Markaz Mosque”. Cleaning and beautification work of the premises is already underway.

Hafizur Rahman, a member of the organisation and president of the Kalia Upazila Imam Parishad, said they have leased the building from the administration for an annual rent of Tk 4,000. “Although the structure is dilapidated, we are trying to make it as usable as possible. A Tabligh centre has been established here. Jamaats coming from different countries and from Kakrail in Dhaka will first gather here, consult with local members and then proceed to various mosques,” he said.

According to the upazila administration and local sources, the building was inaugurated in 1984 as the “Town Hall” by the then deputy commissioner M Shafayat Ali. It was later leased and opened as the Alpona cinema. After the hall closed about 20 years ago, the building remained unused and gradually fell into disrepair.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Rasheduzzaman said the property is vested government land that is normally leased annually. “Because it remained unleased for a long period, it had become a den for drug users. To protect public property and recover revenue, we have now leased the building,” he added.