West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that national security and the security of the Kolkata international airport took precedence over everything else. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Amidst the ongoing controversy over suspension of entry passes for congregational prayers at a mosque inside the Kolkata International Airport, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has backed the action of airport officials.
“National security and security of the airport will gain priority over everything else. As a Chief Minister, I will not comment further. The location of the Kolkata international airport is critical since both China and Bangladesh are close by. It cannot keep its gates open for outsiders,” the Chief Minister had said on Sunday (July 12, 2026).
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Dum Dum Uttar Sourav Sikdar, under whose Assembly segment the airport falls, claimed that the mosque’s presence within the airport complex has affected the full operational use of the two runways and raised security concerns.
Mr. Sikdar said that people offering prayers at the airport mosque, have to be escorted in and out several times in the day by security agencies for the prayer. Airport authorities said that ‘namaz’ at the over-136-year-old Gouripur Jama Masjid, also called Bankra Mosque, inside the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport was suspended for three days from Saturday (July 11, 2026) for the shrine’s renovation
The Bankra Mosque is located at the northern end of the airport’s second runway. Sources said a central security agency raised concerns about allowing people access based only on Aadhaar cards. Several other BJP leaders including Minister Dilip Ghosh have said that no mosque should be allowed inside airport premises and the issue has been pending for a long time.
Siddiqullah Chowdhury, a former State Cabinet minister and president of the Bankra masjid committee urged Muslims to exercise restraint and not to protest. Mr. Chowdhury, president of the Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, also appealed to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to look into the matter and resolve the issue with discussion.
“We will also participate in the discussions. We want a peaceful and religious solution to the problem. Muslims cannot hand over a mosque to anybody,” Mr. Chowdhury said.
Referring to Mr. Chowdhury, the CM said his objections were “raised in a mild tone” since he was speaking to the new government. Authorities are yet to announce whether a new access mechanism will be introduced or whether public entry to the mosque will remain permanently suspended.
Published – July 13, 2026 10:39 am IST
