Sylhet DC Sarwoer Alam withdrawn amid Shahjalal shrine controversy

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwoer Alam has been withdrawn from his post amid criticism over the district administration's intervention at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) shrine.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard today (21 June).

According to the notification, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Jati Prue, Sarwoer Alam has been withdrawn from the post of Sylhet deputy commissioner and transferred to the Ministry of Public Administration as deputy secretary by order of the president.

Confirming the matter, Sarwoer said he has been instructed to join the ministry tomorrow.

Sarwoer had drawn praise for some of his early initiatives after joining Sylhet. However, he recently faced criticism over the management of donations at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) shrine.

Last Thursday, he sealed the shrine's traditional donation pots, which had been managed by shrine authorities for centuries, and installed new donation boxes under a waqf estate-related management by the district administration.

The district administration also deployed Ansar members to guard the donation boxes and installed CCTV cameras.

Sarwoer said the new donation boxes were installed to ensure transparency and accountability in the shrine's income.

However, people linked to the shrine alleged that the move broke a centuries-old practice and was an attempt to bring the shrine's donation management under administrative control.