MURSHIDABAD: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid foundation stone for ”Babri Masjid-style” mosque in West Bengal”s Murshidabad on Saturday.Kabir cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside visiting clerics on the dais as slogans of “Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar” were raised at the venue, where thousands had gathered since morning.The foundation-laying ceremony took place under a heavy security blanket, with large contingents of police, RAF and central forces deployed across Rejinagar and the adjoining Beldanga area to maintain law and order.Security measures have been intensified across Murshidabad district in West Bengal. Kabir claimed that conspiracies were hatched to disrupt the foundation-laying ceremony but asserted that lakhs of people would foil such attempts.

Image Credit: TOI

Earlier in the day, Kabir said, “I will lay the foundation stone for the mosque at Beldanga. No force can stop it. We will go by the orders of the Calcutta high court,” Kabir told reporters before visiting the spot.He also alleged, “There are conspiracies to disrupt the programme by instigating violence. Lakhs of people from across south Bengal districts will foil such attempts. It will be a peaceful ceremony. We have every right to have a place of worship as per the Constitution. Over 2000 volunteers are on duty.”Not only a mosque at Beldanga, but there will also be a hospital, an educational institution and a guest house for people of all communities visiting the place, he said.Kabir accused the TMC of “polarising the issue on religious lines that the BJP follows”.“They are hatching conspiracies,” he claimed.

Massive build-up on ground

Local residents and volunteers began assembling at the site early, with people like Safiqul Islam from Uttar Barasat transporting bricks as part of preparations for the proposed mosque. Organisers expect Kabir to attend the ceremony with nearly 2,000 volunteers handling arrangements.

Beldanga has effectively turned into a large construction zone since Friday, with organisers racing to ready the venue. The MLA, suspended by the TMC on Thursday for repeatedly embarrassing the party, appears undeterred by either the disciplinary action or the heightened administrative focus. Kabir claimed that close to 3 lakh people may gather across a 25-bigha area on Saturday. He said religious leaders from multiple states had confirmed attendance and added, “Two qazis from Saudi Arabia will arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport in the morning.”

Elaborate logistics and large budget

The sprawling venue off NH-12 has seen extensive arrangements. Seven catering groups have reportedly been hired to prepare shahi biryani for the crowd. About 40,000 food packets are being made for visitors and another 20,000 for locals, pushing the food bill beyond Rs 30 lakh. The event’s total expenditure is expected to reach ₹60–70 lakh. A 150-ft by 80-ft dais, set up above the fields, will host nearly 400 guests and is expected to cost ₹10 lakh alone. More than 3,000 volunteers—2,000 of them mobilised on Friday—will manage entry points, regulate traffic and oversee crowd dispersal. Kabir said the day’s proceedings would begin with Quran recitation at 10am, followed by the foundation ceremony at noon. “Formalities will start two hours earlier. By 4 pm, the ground will be cleared as per police directives,” he added.

Security concerns

Authorities, anticipating a massive turnout, have raised concerns about crowd management and uninterrupted traffic flow on NH-12. Acting on a Calcutta high court order, district police officials met Kabir’s team to coordinate security and movement plans. Around 3,000 personnel are likely to be deployed across Beldanga and Raninagar. A senior police officer said their top priority is ensuring the highway remains operational. Additional forces have been sent to the district and multiple diversion routes are ready if required. Officials say preventing congestion and maintaining order remain the biggest challenges for Saturday’s gathering, which is widely seen as a show of strength for Kabir in a region where faith and politics frequently overlap. Kabir insisted turnout would be high, remarking that “People will come because this is a historic moment for the area,” dismissing both political backlash and the heavy security bandobast.