Jamaat leaders replace imam, muezzins in mosque stipend list in Jashore

2026-08-18T14:22:35.435Z

Allegations of irregularities and favouritism have surfaced in the selection of mosques for a government stipend programme for imams, muezzins and caretakers in Keshabpur of Jashore, with local residents accusing political leaders of replacing the names of actual mosque workers with those of Jamaat-e-Islami figures.

After the matter comes to light, a written complaint has been submitted to the local lawmaker over the alleged removal of the imam and caretaker of Garbhanga Baitun Nur Jame Mosque in Panjia Union and the inclusion of names of two local Jamaat leaders in the stipend list.

Under the programme, the Religious Affairs Ministry is providing monthly honourariums of Tk 5,000 for imams, Tk 3,000 for muezzins and Tk 2,000 for mosque caretakers. In the first phase, 15 mosques from each union are being selected in Keshabpur.

According to the complaint, the mosque’s actual imam, Maulana Abdul Rahman, and caretaker, Abdul Razzak, were excluded from the list. Instead, mosque committee cashier and Jamaat leader Tabibur Rahman was allegedly listed as the imam, while Garbhanga ward Jamaat president Abdul Motaleb Molla was named as the caretaker.

Residents subsequently lodged a complaint with the Jashore-6 lawmaker, who instructed Panjia Union Jamaat president Masud Kamal to investigate the matter impartially. Locals allege that the instruction was ignored and that the disputed list was submitted without a proper investigation.

Mosque committee president Islam Sardar said the committee had not been consulted when the list was prepared and alleged that the names of the actual imam and caretaker were later replaced.

Masud Kamal denied the allegations, saying he had no separate instructions and merely forwarded the list supplied by the mosque committee.

Jashore-6 MP and Keshabpur upazila Jamaat ameer Professor Moktar Ali said the allegations were being investigated. If a fair and accurate list could not be established, he said, the mosque could be replaced with another one.