Members of the Bankra mosque committee at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport plan to protest with black ribbons during Friday prayers on July 17, citing the mosque's closure since July 11, initially for two days of repair work but which has continued. The mosque committee, led by former minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, asserts their right to pray at the 136-year-old local mosque, emphasizing a decades-long practice of offering prayers with Union government permission and Aadhaar card verification, and challenging the airport authorities' claims of security issues and expansion hindrances, arguing the airport was built after the mosque and that a 24-year understanding with the Airport Authority of India exists. While acknowledging the state government's restrictions on road blockades for prayers, Chowdhury maintains the protest will be peaceful and legal, and that committee members, who were allegedly denied a police complaint on July 11, are open to dialogue for a solution that allows them to resume prayers at their mosque, which they believe is being unfairly targeted.

Members of the Bankra mosque committee at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport plan to protest with black ribbons during Friday prayers on July 17, citing the mosque's closure since July 11, initially for two days of repair work but which has continued. The mosque committee, led by former minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, asserts their right to pray at the 136-year-old local mosque, emphasizing a decades-long practice of offering prayers with Union government permission and Aadhaar card verification, and challenging the airport authorities' claims of security issues and expansion hindrances, arguing the airport was built after the mosque and that a 24-year understanding with the Airport Authority of India exists. While acknowledging the state government's restrictions on road blockades for prayers, Chowdhury maintains the protest will be peaceful and legal, and that committee members, who were allegedly denied a police complaint on July 11, are open to dialogue for a solution that allows them to resume prayers at their mosque, which they believe is being unfairly targeted.

Members of the Bankra mosque committee at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport plan to protest with black ribbons during Friday prayers on July 17, citing the mosque's closure since July 11, initially for two days of repair work but which has continued. The mosque committee, led by former minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, asserts their right to pray at the 136-year-old local mosque, emphasizing a decades-long practice of offering prayers with Union government permission and Aadhaar card verification, and challenging the airport authorities' claims of security issues and expansion hindrances, arguing the airport was built after the mosque and that a 24-year understanding with the Airport Authority of India exists. While acknowledging the state government's restrictions on road blockades for prayers, Chowdhury maintains the protest will be peaceful and legal, and that committee members, who were allegedly denied a police complaint on July 11, are open to dialogue for a solution that allows them to resume prayers at their mosque, which they believe is being unfairly targeted.

Committee members of the Bankra mosque on the premises of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose international airport will protest en masse during Friday prayers on July 17 wearing black ribbons. The 136-year-old mosque was shut since July 11 citing repair work for two days, but the mosque did not open for prayers thereafter.

“I have asked one crore people to wear black ribbons and offer namaz, pray to Allah and come back. There will be no rally. There will be no miking or canvassing,” said former minister and president of the Bankra mosque committee Siddiqullah Chowdhury.

Committee members showed a permission letter by the Union government to offer prayers at the mosque. Those who offer namaz have to show their Aadhaar card before being given permission to go ahead towards the mosque. This has been a practice for several decades. Committee members say this is their locality mosque, which is why they feel the decision to deny permission for prayers is unfair.

While protesting on Friday, Chowdhury said they will not do anything illegal. Committee members approached senior police officers on July 11 when they were not allowed to offer prayers and also attempted to file a police complaint which they allege was not accepted.

Airport authorities maintain there are security issues as the mosque is located within the premises of the airport. Also with plans for expansion of the airport, the presence of the mosque could be hindering, according to the authorities.

Committee members of the mosque, however, say that the airport came up much after the mosque was built and permission was granted for offering prayers by the Union government. “We have an understanding with the authority (Airport Authority of India) for the past 24 years. What is their problem in giving us a letter?” asked Chowdhury. “They are trying to divide us.”

Though the West Bengal government does not permit people to block roads for Friday prayers, Chowdhury believes it will be a peaceful protest and that no one can stop them from offering namaz while wearing the black ribbon.

On the question of relocation of the mosque, committee members believe there can be a solution through dialogue and that they be allowed to offer prayers once again.