Money of donation box at Shahjalal Mazar will be counted every day

The money of the donation box of the Hazrat Shahjalal (Rah.) Mazar of Sylhet will now be counted every day. 35 percent of the total money of the donation will be kept deposited in a bank account for spending on the development works of the Mazar. The remaining 65 percent will be used to pay the daily expenses of the Mazar and the salary-allowances of the employees.

These decisions were taken at the meeting of the committee formed under the leadership of Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir to bring transparency in the financial management of the Mazar at Sylhet Circuit House on Tuesday (September 22) night. Through this the indecision over the financial management of the Mazar that had been going on for almost two and a half months came to an end.

District Magistrate of Sylhet and member-secretary of the committee Abdullah Al Mamun informed these pieces of information after the end of the meeting.

The District Magistrate informed that 35 percent of the money of the donation will be kept deposited in an account of Sonali Bank for the development works of the Mazar. That account will be operated with the joint signature of the District Magistrate and the Motowalli of the Mazar. The remaining 65 percent of the money will be spent on the daily expenses of the Mazar and paying the salary-allowances of the employees.

The District Magistrate informed that a manager will be appointed from the side of the Mazar committee to ensure the counting of the money of the donation box and transparency in the financial management. He will be a retired civil surgeon or a retired army officer. Besides, one accountant and one office assistant will be appointed.

A seven-member committee will be formed for the operation of the Mazar. The District Magistrate will remain the convener of this committee. There will be one representative each of Sylhet City Corporation, Sylhet Development Authority, Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Sylhet Zila Parishad and the Superintendent of Police in the committee. The Motowalli of the Mazar will perform the responsibility as the member-secretary.

Besides, the appointed manager will perform the secretarial responsibility of the committee. This committee will take all the decisions related to the security and development of the Mazar.

A 13-member committee was formed under the leadership of Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on June 23 to bring transparency in the financial management and overall operation of the Mazar after the initiative of the then District Magistrate Md Sarwar Alam over the money of the donation box of the Hazrat Shahjalal (Rah.) Mazar and the controversy over it. At that time it was said to give the recommendation of a logical and coordinated structure for the operation of the Mazar within one month. However the committee reached a decision on this matter after almost two and a half months.

As there was no policy till now the money of the donation box of the Mazar was being counted publicly and kept deposited in a bank account of the district administration after the initiative of Sarwar Alam. The khadems of the Mazar had alleged that a deadlock has appeared in the operation of the Mazar due to this.

A unilateral initiative was taken from the side of the district administration to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the income-expenditure of the Mazar. As part of this the old donation box of the Mazar was sealed and a new donation box was installed in the afternoon on June 18. At the same time the three historic donation digs for keeping the cash money and other materials donated by the people at the Mazar were also sealed.

Discussion and criticism started across Sylhet over this. The claim of one side was that the District Magistrate has taken an effective initiative to bring transparency in the income-expenditure of the Mazar. The allegation of the other side was that his steps in the name of establishing transparency are one-sided and forced and conflicting with the existing system centring the Mazar.

In the meantime Sarwar Alam was withdrawn and attached to the post of Deputy Secretary of the ministry in a notification of the Ministry of Public Administration on June 21. The next day the lock of the box was opened and the money was counted in public four days after sealing the donation box in his presence.

Cash of Tk 17,65,549, gold ornaments and foreign currency were found from the donation box in the first phase on June 22. Later the total money stood at Tk 22,65,549 after a cheque of Tk 5 lakh from the fund of the district administration was added.

18 days after this, Tk 47,10,153 was found by opening the donation box in the second phase on July 11. Alongside the currencies of various countries and gold-silver were also found.

Lastly Tk 70,88,672 was found by opening the donation box and the mannat dig in the third phase on August 15. At this time also ornaments of gold-silver were found along with domestic and foreign currencies.

Lastly Tk 88,92,966 was found by opening the donation box on September 19. On that day also ornaments of gold-silver were found along with domestic and foreign currencies.