Tk 18 lakh found in Shahjalal Shrine’s donation boxes

Two donation boxes of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) Shrine in Sylhet and the donation box set up by the district administration were opened and counted in public, and cash of 17 lakh 64 thousand 569 taka, 7 annas of gold and 10 Saudi riyals were found.

Earlier, on June 18 (Thursday), breaking a 700-year record, the traditional 3 big donation boxes of the shrine were sealed under the leadership of Executive Magistrate Abdul Basit Mollah.

At the same time, a large main donation box and several small donation boxes were installed by the district administration.

On Monday (June 22), at around 2:30 pm, the faces of the three big donation boxes sealed under the supervision of the district administration were opened for counting.

Students of Shahjalal Madrasa participated in the counting of money. People from different walks of life including the district administration, police administration were present.

In addition, law enforcement officers were also seen on alert to ensure security. Previously, the donation money had not been counted publicly like this in the history of the shrine.

The initiative of Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam to bring transparency in the income and expenditure of the shrine was quite brave and commendable.

The incident began on June 12 (Friday), when the Deputy Commissioner first visited the shrine and ordered the donation boxes to be locked to ensure accountability in the income and expenditure management of the shrine. A week later, on June 18 (Thursday), the traditional 3 big degs of the shrine were sealed under the leadership of Executive Magistrate Abdul Basit Mollah. At the same time, the district administration installed a large main donation box along with several small donation boxes.

For the safety and security of this entire initiative, Ansar members were deployed in the shrine premises and CCTV cameras were installed. This unprecedented step of DC Sarwar Alam has received a huge positive response in the entire Sylhet.

Just when this renovation initiative of the shrine was seeing the light of day, his transfer order came. Yesterday, Sunday (June 21), in a notification of the Ministry of Public Administration, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam was withdrawn and attached to the Ministry of Public Administration as Deputy Secretary.

Although the news of the transfer or withdrawal has somewhat saddened the common people of Sylhet and his well-wishers, even at the moment before his departure, this official left a unique example by completing his responsibility towards the Shahjalal (RA) Shrine with honesty and devotion.