Sylhet officials face scrutiny over controversial donation to self-funded shrine surplus
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A controversy has emerged in Sylhet following the decision by the outgoing Deputy Commissioner (DC), Sarwar Alam, to donate 5 lakh taka from the district administration’s funds to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA). Critics argue the donation was a performative gesture, noting that the shrine, which receives substantial public offerings, is financially self-sufficient and that the funds could have been better utilized for public welfare.
The criticism was voiced by Abdul Karim Chowdhury, coordinator of the civic movement Sankshubdha Nagarik Andolon, who characterized the move as a political stunt. According to a report by Prothom Alo, the donation followed a series of contentious actions taken by the former administrator regarding the management of local shrines, which had already sparked significant public debate before his recent transfer.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Tensions initially rose on June 12 when Mr. Alam visited the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shahparan (RA) and announced plans to impose stricter oversight on their financial management. Under his direction, authorities installed new donation boxes and sealed several historical receptacles used for offerings. This administrative intervention drew mixed reactions, with some praising the push for transparency while others expressed indignation at the state’s direct involvement in managing religious offerings.
Following a directive from the Ministry of Public Administration to recall Mr. Alam, the outgoing DC returned to the shrine on the day before his departure to oversee the opening and counting of the sealed collection boxes. The tally revealed 17,65,549 taka in cash, alongside gold ornaments and foreign currency. These assets were subsequently deposited into a newly opened bank account. During this process, Mr. Alam authorized the additional 5 lakh taka contribution from the district administration’s coffers.
বিজ্ঞাপন
While acknowledging that the counting process provided the first transparent glimpse into the shrine’s significant daily revenue—a figure previously unrecorded in its 700-year history—local observers remain skeptical of the necessity of the state grant. Critics maintain that providing public funds to an institution that already holds substantial assets is an inefficient allocation of resources.
Mr. Alam, who was appointed as the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner in August of last year, was unreachable for detailed comment, though he confirmed the transfer of the 5 lakh taka to the shrine’s fund. His tenure was marked by a series of high-profile administrative initiatives, ranging from urban infrastructure crackdowns to efforts to curb corruption in local medical facilities, many of which met with both support and opposition throughout the region.
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