Ahmed Jamil Sylhet
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam has initiated steps to bring the financial management of the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) under formal accountability, ending what he described as a long-standing practice of “opacity” in income and expenditure records.
The move comes amid questions over the absence of documented accounts for donations and offerings made at the two historic dargahs, which receive cash, livestock, gold and other valuables from thousands of devotees daily.
The issue surfaced during the implementation of a Tk30 crore development project at the Shahjalal shrine, of which Tk25 crore is government-funded.
The remaining Tk5 crore was to be contributed by the shrine authorities.
While the Sylhet City Corporation provided Tk3 crore, the failure to arrange the rest prompted the Planning Commission to seek clarification on the shrine’s income sources, leading to an administrative inquiry.
At a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday, shrine authorities were asked to submit detailed income and expenditure records.
However, officials failed to provide any satisfactory documentation of funds collected over the years.
On Friday morning, the DC visited the Shahjalal shrine and inspected various sections of the premises.
He said there was no systematic record of cash donations, livestock offerings or other contributions, adding that funds were being collected and spent without proper documentation.
“Some individuals collect the income and distribute and spend it among themselves. But this is public property, and hence proper records must be maintained from now on,” he told journalists after the visit.
Locals have long raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the management of donations, alleging that substantial daily collections have never been formally accounted for.
The administration’s move has been welcomed by some community leaders, who say financial transparency would strengthen public trust in religious institutions.
Sylhet Metropolitan Imam Association President Maulana Habib Ahmed Shihab said a full audit was necessary, noting that donations should be directed toward the welfare of the poor and needy under religious principles.
Shrine trustee Fateh Ullah Al Aman acknowledged that funds from donations are used for operational costs such as utilities and staff salaries, and that members of the management also have access to portions of the income, adding that this system has been in place for years.
The district administration has also indicated plans to develop a modern Islamic complex integrating the shrines with mosques and madrasas in the future.
