Residents blame the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government for ignoring the Muslim heritage and failing to act on yearly river erosion
NEW DELHI – A heart-wrenching scene unfolded in Fakirganj, a town in Assam’s Dhubri district, when a 100-year-old mosque was swallowed by the rising waters of the Brahmaputra River. As the centuries-old structure crumbled into the river, local Muslims continued offering prayers in front of the spot where the mosque once stood, under the open sky.
The video of the collapse has gone viral on social media. In it, men can be seen standing in rows, offering namaz, while behind them, the remains of the mosque are being consumed by the swollen river. The clip has left many across the country and beyond in disbelief, with people questioning how such a historical and religious site could be allowed to disappear without preventive action.
The mosque, located in the Wahab Bazar area of Fakirganj, was a symbol of pride for the locals. It held religious, historical, and emotional value for thousands who visited it from different parts of India and even abroad. Local accounts claim that it stood as a sign of the area’s cultural and Islamic legacy, passed down through generations. But all of that is now lost beneath the Brahmaputra.
Residents have squarely blamed the state government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing it of ignoring the safety and conservation of Muslim religious places.
“This is not just a building. This mosque was our history, our identity. We watched it vanish before our eyes,” said Abdul Karim, a resident of Fakirganj. “Had the government built proper embankments, we wouldn’t be standing here praying in the mud.”
Locals say the erosion of the riverbank during monsoon is a known issue. “Every year, floods take away more of our land. The government knows this. Yet, they did nothing for this mosque. Why?” asked Mohammad Suhail, a schoolteacher from the area.
There has been no official statement from either the chief minister or the local administration so far. Attempts to reach the district collector’s office for comment went unanswered.
Many feel that the incident is not an isolated case but part of a wider pattern. Activists and residents claim that under the present BJP-led government, Muslim heritage sites and religious institutions have been neglected — and in some cases, deliberately targeted.
“The government is very quick to bulldoze madrasas, often without even giving proper notice. But when it comes to preserving a 100-year-old mosque, they turn a blind eye,” said Nasiruddin Ahmed, a local community organiser. “This isn’t just negligence — this is discrimination.”
Several community leaders allege that despite repeated requests to have protective embankments along the Brahmaputra, no significant work was undertaken. The lack of urgency, they argue, reflects the government’s unwillingness to protect places of Islamic significance.
“There were proposals. We submitted requests and warnings. We told them that this mosque was in danger,” said Shahidul Islam, a member of the local mosque committee. “We were told the funds would come. But they never did. Now the mosque is gone.”
Flooding and erosion along the Brahmaputra have been a long-standing issue in Assam, particularly during the rainy season. Each year, hundreds of homes, fields, and public structures are washed away.
In the past, many areas of Dhubri district have experienced similar tragedies. Yet, despite government promises, flood management in Assam remains weak. Locals say that in districts with large Muslim populations, development and disaster preparedness are particularly slow or absent.
“When Hindu temples face damage, officials rush to repair them. But when our mosque needed protection, nobody came,” said Mohammad Javed, a university student. “Is this the value of our faith in this country?”
He added, “Muslims in Assam are repeatedly shown that our history does not matter to those in power.”
In the aftermath, grief has turned to anger. Hundreds of people gathered near the site on Friday evening, demanding immediate action from the government. Many held placards reading “Save Our Heritage” and “Stop Targeting Muslims”.
“This is not only a loss for us but for India,” said Zakia Sultana, a retired teacher from Dhubri. “Our mosque welcomed people of all faiths. Tourists from faraway lands came to admire its architecture. Now it’s only rubble.”
The Wahab Bazar mosque was also seen as a symbol of peace and unity in a district known for its diverse religious communities. Interfaith events were often held there, and its doors remained open for all. But its destruction, say residents, has left a painful gap.
“It’s not just bricks and walls. We’ve lost a piece of our soul,” said 65-year-old Abdul Hamid, who had offered prayers at the mosque since his youth.
Local leaders are now calling for a judicial inquiry into why no preventive steps were taken, even though the danger was well-known. They have also demanded that the mosque be rebuilt at a safer location using government funds.
“If the government has money to build new temples, they must also have money to rebuild our mosque,” said Hafizur Rahman, an imam from the nearby village of Salmara. “Anything less would be hypocrisy.”
There are also calls for greater accountability. Social media is flooded with messages asking why minority religious sites are always the ones ignored.
“The silence of the administration is louder than the flood,” tweeted one user. “Shame on the government for letting this happen.”
The incident has begun to attract national attention. Several opposition leaders have condemned the Assam government, accusing it of communal bias and deliberate neglect.
“Year after year, erosion hits Dhubri, but protection is never provided to areas where Muslims live,” said AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi. “This is not a natural disaster. This is a man-made injustice.”
Congress leaders in Assam have also demanded compensation for the local community and a review of all vulnerable heritage sites across the state.
“The government must explain why no embankment was built when people had been warning them for years,” said Debabrata Saikia, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly. “This mosque could have been saved.”
Even after the video went viral and outrage spread, the government has not issued a formal statement. The silence, say critics, speaks volumes.
“When it’s about our institutions, the government always finds a reason to say no. But when it suits their agenda, they can act overnight,” said Shabnam Parveen, a college lecturer. “We feel abandoned.”
While the mosque may be gone, the pain and anger it has left behind may not go away soon. For many in Fakirganj, the incident has deepened feelings of alienation and discrimination.
“The mosque stood for more than a hundred years,” said 78-year-old Noorul Haq. “Floods came before, but we always rebuilt. This time, it feels different. This time, it feels like they let it happen on purpose.”
With prayers now being held on the muddy ground where the mosque once stood, the people of Fakirganj say their faith remains strong, but their trust in the government has washed away with the river.
