The Muslim people in Rakhine State demand to preserve the grand mosque, known as City Mosque (b) JamaMosque, which is more than 100 yearsold, situated in the State capital city of Sittwe.

A young Muslim informed that the colonial-era mosque wasalready closed for worshiping,where the policemen and soldiers have beenguarding it. But many drug addicts regularly enter into the mosque, added the youngman.

Due to the lack of maintaining efforts, many portions of the mosque were already devoured by banyan trees.

 "This mosque is over a hundred years old. It is one of the earliest works of the colonial Britishgovernment. It’s a historical building. Wewant the government to preserve it considering its historical values," he said.

The mosque was closed for praying during the Rakhine ethnic and religious violence in 2012.

As the mosque is deteriorating with no timely maintenance, the Muslim leaders now ask the government fornecessary permission to look after thestructure.

"The religious elders are requesting the authority to give permission for its repairment, but they are yet toget it. The government has not takenany initiative for its repairement. So the ancient city mosque may collapse in the coming days,"he lamented.

The relationship between the Buddhist Rakhine and Muslims in the State has been improved lately with mutualrespect to each other.

According to reliable records, the 160-year-old Jama Mosque in Sittwe was built by U Mohamad Boch and Daw IllLa Hijan Begum in 1859.