Shahjalal Shrine donation fund gets new management rules

The donation money collected at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) Shrine in Sylhet will now be counted daily under a new management scheme, resolving nearly two months of administrative uncertainty.

A decision was reached at a meeting chaired by Commerce Minister Khondokar Abdul Muktadir at the Sylhet Circuit House on Tuesday (September 22) night to bring transparency to the shrine's financial management. Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun announced the measures after the meeting.

Under the new plan, 35 per cent of the daily donations will be deposited into a joint Sonali Bank account managed by the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and the shrine's Mutawalli to fund future development work. The remaining 65 per cent will cover daily operational expenses and staff salaries.

To ensure transparency, a manager will be hired from retired military or retired Civil Surgeon background–along with an accountant and an office assistant. 

A seven-member administrative committee will oversee the shrine's security and overall development. The Deputy Commissioner will head the committee as convener, while representatives from the City Corporation, Sylhet Development Authority, Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Sylhet Zila Parishad, and the Superintendent of Police will serve as members. The Mutawalli will serve as member secretary, and the newly appointed manager will handle secretarial duties.

The new structure ends a impasse that began on June 18 when former Deputy Commissioner Mo Sarwar Alam unilaterally sealed the old donation boxes and historic donation cauldrons (degs) to enforce financial accountability. The move sparked heated local debate and led to his withdrawal on June 21.

Since then, donation boxes have been opened and counted publicly four times. The counts recorded 17.65 lakh Taka on June 22, 47.10 lakh Taka on July 11, 70.88 lakh Taka on August 15, and 88.92 lakh Taka on September 19, along with various quantities of foreign currencies and gold jewelry.

-SA