The Sultani Masjid in Chandpur has finally been included in the gazette by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
The government made the decision to preserve the masjid in the Chhoto Sundor area in Chandpur Sadar upazila as an antiquity, based on a proposal put forward by the Archaeology Department.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Ashim Kumar Dey confirmed the matter through a letter signed by him.
Ashim said: "We made the decision to preserve the Sultani Masjid last month, after the Archaeology Department sent us a proposal regarding it.”
"We have already informed the director from Chittagong responsible for working on this project to put up a signboard on the masjid premises," he said. "We instructed him to complete the perseveration work as soon as possible, and show it to the ministry."
The joint secretary further said the lawmaker from Chandpur 3 constituency and Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni have shown considerable interest in the matter, and are encouraging officials to complete the project.
Director for the Chittagong zone from the Archaeology Department, Dr Ataur Rahman, said: "We will visit the masjid area in a few days. The signboard will be put up after holding discussions with the administration."
The locals of Chandpur are eagerly waiting for the Sultani Masjid to be turned into a tourist centre through preservation work. A few days after the remains of the site were discovered, Dr Dipu Moni visited the place and assured everyone of taking initiatives to turn it into a tourist spot.
Chandpur administrative officers also visited the masjid several times, and instructed the union parishad chairman to keep the masjid and nearby areas secure.
The single-dome masjid from the Sultani era was discovered last year. After the local administration and the Archaeology Department inspected the place, archeologists found that the masjid was nearly 500 years old.
There are four small minarets on four corners of the wall surrounding the masjid. The length of the outside perimeter (from north-south), including the minaret, is 16ft, while the width (from east-west) is 15ft.
The length of the interior of the masjid is 8'10'', while width is 7'3''. The whole masjid has been built of burnt clay, sand, limestone, and other materials.