Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday opened 50 more newly constructed model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across Bangladesh in the project's fifth phase.

Counting the new ones, 250 mosques have been built so far as part of the government's move to construct 564 district- and upazila-level model mosques at a cost of Tk9,435 crore throughout the country.

The premier opened the 50 mosques through a virtual inaugural ceremony from her official residence, Ganabhaban.

Earlier, she unveiled 50 mosques each in the first phase on June 10, 2021, in the second phase on January 16 this year, the third phase on March 16 and the fourth phase on April 17.

The construction of the remaining mosques and Islamic cultural centres is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.

The model mosques and Islamic cultural centres include separate places for ablution and prayer along with air conditioning.

Besides, there will be registration and training arrangements for hajj pilgrims, imam training centres, research centres and Islamic libraries, autism corners, car parking, pre-primary education and Quran learning arrangement, conference rooms for Islamic cultural activities and Islamic dawah, Islamic books sale centres and boarding facilities for local and foreign guests along with the mosques.

Being imbued with the spirit of Islam and following in the footsteps of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the prime minister came up with the idea of constructing 564 model mosques across the country.

The purpose of the project is to publicize Islamic culture and values as well as disseminate the essence of Islam against extremism and militancy.

Under category A, 69 four-storey mosques with elevators and a floor space of 2,360.09 square metres each are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas.

Under category B, 475 mosques are being built with a floor space of 1680.14 square metres each, and 16 mosques under the C category in coastal areas will have a floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each.