Tk 88 lakh, gold, silver and currencies of 18 countries found in Shahjalal shrine donation box
Tk 88 lakh has been found this time in the donation box of the Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) shrine in Sylhet. Alongside the cash, gold and silver and the currencies of 18 countries were also found in the donation box. The figures emerged after the counting of the donation box and deg money was completed on Saturday (24 October).
In the counting work that began in the morning under the supervision of the shrine authorities, the cash, ornaments and foreign currencies deposited in the donation box were counted separately. At the end of the counting, the amount of cash stood at Tk 88 lakh.
Beyond the cash, donations of gold and silver given by devotees and visitors were also found in this round of counting. Such donations are generally placed in the donation box by people visiting the shrine as part of vows and prayers.
The most notable aspect is the recovery of currencies from 18 countries. It may be assumed that currencies of various countries were deposited in the donation box reflecting the travel of expatriates and foreign visitors to Sylhet — however, a detailed list of which countries' currencies were found and in what amounts has not yet been published.
In the same counting, various kinds of letters were also found in the donation box — people had written their prayers and wishes and deposited them in the box. Among the letters found this time was one written by a Chhatra League leader praying for the recovery of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, which has separately sparked discussion.
The Shahjalal shrine is one of the most well-known religious and visiting places in Sylhet Division. Throughout the year, countless devotees and visitors from home and abroad come here, and their donations build up the large sums found in the donation box.
Opening the donation box at fixed intervals and counting the money publicly is a long-standing practice of the shrine. To maintain transparency, the entire accounting is completed during the counting in the presence of those concerned.
This time's figure of Tk 88 lakh is the latest result of that continuing series of countings. As in previous countings, the presence of precious metals and foreign currencies alongside cash this time too reflects the devotion of local and foreign devotees towards the shrine.
The final accounting of the counted money and donations will remain preserved with the shrine authorities. Once a full list, including the valuation of the gold, silver and foreign currencies, is published, the complete picture of this round of donations will be available.
For now, the news of Tk 88 lakh, gold and silver and the currencies of 18 countries found in Saturday's counting remains at the centre of discussion across Sylhet. Those concerned expect this continuity of donations by devotees visiting the shrine to continue in future countings as well.
