Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 have been clamped around Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata from Friday morning, 18 July 2025, barring assembly of four or more persons, after former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress-linked leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury called for mass prayers at the Bankra Mosque — a 136-year-old structure inside the airport premises currently undergoing relocation on national security grounds. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel have been deployed alongside local police to enforce the order.

The Mosque Relocation Dispute

The Gauripur Jama Masjid, popularly known as the Bankra Masjid, has stood within the airport boundary for over a century. Relocation talks have been ongoing for several decades, with aviation authorities citing the mosque's proximity to the airport's secondary runway as a safety hazard — experts note it obstructs the expansion of that runway and complicates operations when the main runway is closed for maintenance. The formal relocation process was initiated last week by the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal, following years of negotiations that had failed to produce a resolution under previous administrations.

Notably, this is the first concrete administrative action on the relocation after decades of discussion, and it comes shortly after a change of political power in the state — a context that has sharpened the controversy.

Chowdhury's Call and the Administration's Response

Siddiqullah Chowdhury, a former state minister and a prominent face of the protest movement against the relocation, announced Friday afternoon prayers at the mosque's original location, directly defying the administration's order restricting entry to the mosque via passes. In response, the Bidhannagar City Police — under whose jurisdiction the airport falls — issued the prohibitory orders and mounted a substantial security operation.

A combined force comprising CAPF personnel, Bidhannagar City Police officers, and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed across the airport perimeter. Gate No. 7, previously the primary access point to the mosque, is under special patrol. Police are broadcasting announcements via microphones urging the public not to violate the orders, and the administration is monitoring the situation to ensure no disruption to airport passengers.

Aviation Safety at the Core

Airport officials have stated that the mosque's current position poses a tangible risk to aircraft operations, particularly during take-off and landing on the secondary runway. The structure has also stalled runway expansion work. According to aviation experts, any temporary closure of the main runway for maintenance would create significant difficulties for larger aircraft if the secondary runway remains constrained. These safety considerations form the official basis for the relocation, which authorities say has been pursued on national security grounds.

Political and Community Fault Lines

Several minority organisations and groups affiliated with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) — the previous ruling party in West Bengal — have mobilised against the relocation process since it formally began. Critics argue the timing and manner of the move lack adequate community consultation, though the administration maintains that negotiations have been underway for years. The BJP government has not publicly commented on Chowdhury's call for prayers as of Friday morning.

What Happens Next

The standoff between the administration and protest leaders will test the state government's ability to carry through a sensitive infrastructure decision without triggering communal tension. With prohibitory orders in force and a heavy security presence on the ground, authorities appear determined to prevent any breach. The broader question — of where the mosque will be relocated and what facilities will be provided — remains publicly unresolved, and is likely to define the next phase of this dispute.