Kishoreganj man hosts his own post-death memorial feast while still alive
Photo Collected
A 62-year-old resident of Hossainpur Upazila in Kishoreganj has sparked widespread local discussion by hosting his own “chellisha”—a traditional post-death memorial feast—while still alive. Rafiqul Islam, a well-to-do resident of Bir Hajipur village in Jinari Union, organized the mass banquet for thousands of people following Friday prayers.
The event, held on the grounds of Bir Hajipur Government Primary School, drew attendees from several surrounding villages. To accommodate the massive crowd, the family arranged for professional caterers to prepare meals consisting of beef, mutton, rice, khichuri, and fish. According to local sources, the banquet was prepared for approximately 6,000 guests, with several cows and goats slaughtered the night before.
Rafiqul, the son of the late Hatem Ali, decided to fund the event following the recent acquisition of his land and shop by the government for a road construction project. He noted that the influx of compensation money, combined with his declining health and advancing age, prompted the decision. After consulting with his wife, Begum Aktar, he concluded that he would rather oversee the charitable event himself than rely on his heirs to host it after his death.
His cousin, Abdus Salam, confirmed that the gathering was a planned family decision, with Rafiqul personally extending invitations throughout the region over the past week. Attendees expressed surprise at the nature of the event, as the tradition is typically observed 40 days after an individual’s passing. Residents noted that Rafiqul likely feared his relatives would not organize such a large-scale event after his death, choosing instead to ensure the feeding of the poor and his community while he could witness it.
Religious scholars, however, have questioned the practice. Mufti Maulana Khalilur Rahman of Kishoreganj stated that there is no provision in Islam for hosting one’s own funeral memorial while living. He further noted that holding a “chellisha” 40 days after death is not a mandatory religious requirement. While the Mufti acknowledged that feeding the poor is an act of charity, he emphasized that Islam does not support the public spectacle of hosting one’s own funeral rites.
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