DC Oversees Opening of Shahjalal Shrine Donation Pots, Boxes
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Authorities began counting money from donation pots and boxes at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet under district administration supervision, in the presence of the recently withdrawn deputy commissioner.
Three sealed donation pots and newly installed donation boxes were opened on Monday after the Zohr prayer, four days after they were sealed. Administrative officials started counting the cash in the shrine premises.
Executive Magistrate Abdul Basit Mollah confirmed the development, saying the sealed pots and boxes were opened around 2 p.m. after the Zohr prayer. Bags of cash were taken out in full view of those present and moved to a designated area for counting.
The entire process is being overseen by Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Sarwar Alam, who was recently withdrawn following what officials described as the “shrine incident.”
The Public Administration Ministry issued an order on Sunday transferring Sarwar Alam back to the ministry as a deputy secretary. He had assumed office as Sylhet DC following the stone-related incident in August last year.
Although he avoided major administrative controversies over the past 10 months, Sarwar Alam recently drew both attention and criticism after initiating reforms in donation management at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).
Thousands of devotees and visitors arrive daily at Sylhet’s two historic shrines, offering cash, gold ornaments, livestock, and various items. While questions over donation records, expenditure, and management have long been raised locally, the system had never come under effective administrative oversight.
On June 12, the withdrawn DC visited the Shahjalal shrine and stressed the need for transparency and accountability in donation management.
A few days later, the district administration sealed three donation pots used for collecting vowed offerings and installed new donation boxes. During the operation, Executive Magistrate Abdul Basit Mollah said all future donations would be deposited into boxes under administrative supervision. Ansar members were deployed to secure the boxes.
However, a section of shrine caretakers publicly opposed the initiative, criticizing administrative intervention and defending the traditional system of donation management.
Amid the dispute, DC Sarwar Alam was withdrawn from his post. Although the official order did not specify a reason, officials strongly believe the “shrine incident” was behind the decision.
