For the first time in 707 years, donations at the historic shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) in Sylhet were publicly counted under the supervision of the district administration. Over four and a half days, a total of 1,765,559 taka and seven ana of gold were collected from the shrine’s donation boxes and cauldrons. The counting concluded on Monday afternoon, with officials confirming the figures. A certificate praising District Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam’s initiatives was also found inside one of the cauldrons.

Earlier, on Thursday, the old cauldrons were sealed and nine new donation boxes were installed under administrative oversight. CCTV cameras were also set up to ensure transparency in the donation collection process. The shrine, one of Bangladesh’s most significant religious and tourist sites, uses donations for maintenance, development, and religious activities.

The public counting followed growing discussions about the shrine’s financial management. Authorities said the measures aimed to ensure transparency and accountability. However, on Sunday, the Public Administration Ministry reassigned DC Sarwar Alam without explanation, prompting protests in Sylhet demanding his reinstatement.