Plan to demolish century-old Bandara Mosque meets resistance

The plan to demolish the Bandara Mosque and build a larger modern mosque at the site has sparked resistance from history enthusiasts, who urge the authorities to preserve a historical landmark which has stood in the Maldivian capital for close to a century.

On Friday, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed announced that that the government has received funding from a generous donor to replace the Bandara Mosque, officially called Masjid Al-Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen, with a modern, more spacious one.

He announced that construction will begin after Ramadan.

Located near the Theemuge, the former presidential residence, Bandara Mosque, originally named Bunbaa Mosque, is a historic, originally Shiite mosque built in 1927, during the reign of Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III. It was constructed by Dawoodi Bohra merchants who settled in Male’ with government permission starting in 1857.

The mosque is recognizable by its red-tiled roof with a green-painted openwork balcony. Its architecture, unusual in the Maldives, is characterized by the presence of a veranda on three of its sides.

This mosque, which holds immense historical significance, has stood in Male’ for 98 years, representing a unique and special chapter in Maldivian history, reflecting the multicultural influences and trade connections that shaped the Maldivian islands.

The plan to demolish the mosque sparked immediate concern, especially from history enthusiasts.

Former Heritage Minister Yumna Maumoon wrote on X that the mosque must not be demolished “under any circumstances.”

ބަންޑާރަ މިސްކިތް ތަޅައިލުމަކީ އެއްގޮތަކަށްވެސް ކޮށްގެންވާނެ ކަމެއް ނޫން. އެއީ 98 އަހަރުވެފައިވާ މާލޭގެ މުހިންމު ދީނީ، ތާރޚީ، ސަގާފީ ބިނާއެއް. ރާއްޖޭގެ މި ފަދަ ތާރީޚީ ބިނާތަކާއި ސަގާފީ ތަރިކަ ރައްކާތެރިކުރުމަށް ސަގާފީ ތަރިކަ ޤާނޫނެއް ހަދައި ތަސްދީޤް ކުރެވިފައިވާނެ.… pic.twitter.com/o7UV7zi6lq

— Yumna Maumoon ???????? ???????????? (@yumna_maumoon) March 6, 2026

She stressed that the 98-year-old mosque is a key religious, historical and cultural site in Male’.

She also noted that the Maldives has a Cultural Heritage Act in place to protect such sites.

Former Justice Minister Mohamed Muizzu Adnan wrote on Facebook that the Bandara Mosque is one of just some six historical sites left in Male’.

“There are major institutions in place to protect and revive history, culture and traditions. Is this really necessary?” he asked.

Muizzu feels like the Maldives has been seeing its historical and cultural landmarks destroyed since 1957.

Historian Najih Didi warned that demolishing the Bandara Mosque would be “a grave mistake.”

“Demolishing Bandaara Miskiiy would be a grave mistake. It violates the spirit of heritage preservation law, which protect our cultural and historical sites. This mosque is not just a place of worship; it is irreplaceable cultural heritage tied to our nation's diverse past,” he wrote on X.

މިއީ އެއްގޮތަކަށް ވެސް ކޮށްގެންވާނެ ކަމެއް ނޫން! ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޚާއްޞަ ތާރީޚީ ކަމަކާ ގުޅުން ހުރި އަދި މިހާރު 98 އަހަރުވެފައިވާ މިފަދަ ތަނެއް ނައްތާލުމަކީ ތާރީޚަށް ދެވޭނެ އިއާދަނުކުރެވޭ ފަދަ ބޮޑު ގެއްލުމެއް! އަދި އެއީ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސަގާފީ ތަރިކަ ރައްކާތެރިކުރުމަށް ހަދާފައިވާ… https://t.co/gzSEBc3LXM

— Dhivehi Archives by Naajih Didi (@NaajihDidi) March 6, 2026

Former Heritage Ministry official Shamoon Jaleel, better known as Lucas Jalyl, said that the Bandara Mosque is one of only a few historical sites remaining in Male’, and must be preserved.

Following this outpouring of criticism, Shaheem wrote on X that Bandara Mosque is not on the official list of historical mosques in the Maldives.

Raajjeyga Aasaaree miskiythakuge list eh ovey . Thee aasaaree miskitheh noon. Thaareekhee thanthan nathaalumuge silsilaa eh ney. Thithanaa hukuru miskithaa eedhu miskiy v thafaathu. Ee aasaaree miskiythah.. ethanthan rakkaatheerikamaa eku balahatamun dhey ekamaa behey…

— Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed (@Mohamedshaheem1) March 6, 2026

He said that the government will listen to the concerns of the people, wishes to hold extensive discussions on the matter.

According to historians, the then-Bunbaa Mosque served the Bohra community for about 35 years until their business permits were canceled in 1962, leading to their departure and leaving the mosque unoccupied. It was then adapted for local use, renamed Bandaara Mosque, and opened to the public on January 12, 1967, with Jumah prayers beginning on December 7, 1968.

It has functioned as a Sunni mosque for 58 years.

The plan to demolish the mosque has sparked an online protest movement under the banner - #SaveBadaaraMiskiy.