THE KOSITEROVIC MADRASSAH IN BUGOJNO

Abstract

Development of educational institutions in Bugojno began with the construction of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and primary religious school (mekteb) in 1693/94. The strong impetus for education and general cultural development of Bugojno was given by Ahmed-aga, son of Husein, Bosnali, who in 1739, along with Sultan Ahmed’s Mosque, also built the muallimhana, which became Madrassah after the Austrian- Hungarian occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Bugojno Madrassah was founded at the end of the 19th century by Halil-bay Kositerovic. He also endowed real estate for the School’s upkeep. This school was of the regional or even local importance, but, during a relatively short period it was opened, it played an important role in religious education of Muslims in the Bugojno region. Abdulah Mustajbegovic, who worked there from 1913 to 1941, when the Madrassah was closed down, made the biggest impact on the School’s work. Its building was destroyed in 1996.