Beside Khan Jahan Ali's Shrine in Bagerhat Stands the Zinda Pir Mosque of Mysterious Folklore

Among the historic structures of Bagerhat, the Zinda Pir Mosque is a distinctive landmark. The small single-domed mosque carries traces of medieval architecture, old graves, and a mysterious tale passed down by word of mouth among local people.

The Zinda Pir Mosque stands close to the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat. Located at the north-west corner of the shrine complex, the mosque has four round turrets at its four corners.

Its walls are on average about 1.52 metres thick. There are three arched doorways on the eastern side and one doorway each on the northern and southern sides. There are three mihrabs at the front.

The mosque's hemispherical dome was once in a broken state. It was renovated in 2002. However, the renovation is thought to have altered some features of the ancient structure's original architecture.

The mosque's name is tied to a local folk belief surrounding a revered man. According to the prevailing tale, the man one day disappeared while reciting the Holy Quran. Local people believe he is still alive.

That is why he is called the 'Zinda Pir' and the mosque came to be known as the Zinda Pir Mosque. 'Zinda Pir' means a living holy person.

No reliable historical evidence has been found, however, to support this tale. The story handed down by word of mouth nevertheless remains part of the mosque's identity.

Several old graves can also be seen in the mosque premises. As none of them carries a nameplate, nothing certain is known about the graves. Nearby stands a shrine where people from various places come to pray.

To visit the Zinda Pir Mosque, travellers must first reach the town of Bagerhat. Bagerhat can be reached from Dhaka by bus. Fares vary depending on the type of bus, the travel time and the company.

After reaching Bagerhat town, visitors can travel by local auto-rickshaw, easy bike or rickshaw to the Khan Jahan Ali shrine area. A walk of a few minutes to the west of the shrine leads to the Zinda Pir Mosque. A visit to Khan Jahan Ali's shrine can be combined with a visit to the Zinda Pir Mosque.