Staff Reporter, from Sylhet//

A complaint has been received against the Motawalli of Jallarpar Jame Mosque in Sylhet city for not giving an account of the mosque’s income and expenditure. For a long time, he has been spending money as he pleases without giving any account of the mosque’s income and expenditure. This has created tension among the Muslims. Even though one party has asked for an account, the Motawalli is adamant about not giving it. In this situation, the people of the area are also afraid of unpleasant incidents at any time. Even a Muslim named Ehsanul Haque Taher has been threatened for asking for an account. A general diary has also been filed with the police station in this incident.

Jallarpar Jame Mosque is located in Ward No. 14 of Sylhet city. The mosque is known as Amirul Hossain Waqf Estate. Currently, K.M. Tafazzul Hossain Emon, son of Nazmul Islam, is serving as the Motawalli of this mosque.

Recently, Ehsanul Haque Taher, son of Fazlul Haque of Jallarpar area, asked Motawalli Emon for an account of his income and expenses. He first asked Motawalli for an account of his income and expenses verbally. Later, the people of the area asked Motawalli to ask for an account in writing. According to them, Taher took a written application to Motawalli’s house to give an account. Motawalli became very angry at this. He made it clear that he would not give an account in any way and that it was not possible for him. He even threatened to take an account from him if he could. At one stage, Motawalli Emon became angry with him and threatened to see him.

Ehsanul Haque Taher filed a general diary with Kotwali police station on November 18, seeking his life’s safety in this incident. Kotwali Police Station General Diary (No. 1924 (11) 24.

In the diary, he mentioned that Motawalli Imon has not disclosed any income and expenditure accounts to the devotees since the completion of the mosque in 2010.

He complained to various government departments for not receiving the accounts.

In his complaint, he mentioned that from 2010 to 2024, no accounts related to income and expenditure were given to the mosque committee or the devotees. During that period, several crores of taka were earned and spent on the development of the mosque. The people of the area are very angry that no account of the income and expenditure of the mosque was ever disclosed to the devotees during this long period.

The complaint mentions that the money for the development of the mosque was misappropriated by abusing his power due to not giving accounts. He was the Deputy Commissioner on November 18, the Waqf Inspector, Ministry of Religious Affairs on November 20, and the Waqf Administrator, Bangladesh on November 21 for a proper investigation of the income and expenditure accounts of the mosque. Waqf Bhaban, on November 24, sent separate applications to the Divisional Commissioner, Sylhet, and on December 11, the Religious Advisor.
In the complaint letter, Taher mentioned that since the start of the reconstruction of the mosque in February 2010, the Motawalli has not disclosed any account of the income and expenditure of the mosque to the Muslims or anyone. In the past, various people from home and abroad have donated money for the construction of the mosque. The accounts of the money withdrawn in the 9 donation boxes for the construction of the mosque, donations from various organizations, sale of old shop premises, money withdrawn on Shab-e-Barat, Shab-e-Qadr, Jummabar and special days, shop rent money, etc. have not been disclosed till date. On the contrary, the Motawalli, without counting the money withdrawn, fills the sacks and takes them to his house. Where and how much money was spent, when and how much income was earned, everything is done according to his wishes. It is alleged in the application that if anyone wants to know the accounts, he is subjected to various harassments. Similarly, in 2009, another worshipper demanded an account. Even then, that account was not given.

Taher said that the mutawalli always says that this is their waqf property. However, the mosque is running on the money of the worshippers. In this situation, how does his family have wealth, Taher asked.

When asked about the complaint, the mutawalli of the Jallapar Jame Mosque, K.M. Tofazzul Hossain Emon, told the reporter, I am not aware of the account that has been mentioned since 2010. This is a matter of the previous committee. I have been performing the duties of the mutawalli since 2018. Every year, the income and expenditure accounts of our mosque are submitted to the waqf estate. Even the taxes prescribed by the government are paid.

Regarding the embezzlement of money, he said that this is a complete propaganda. He believes that a campaign to create chaos everywhere since August 5 is a part of this.

In this regard, Alhajj Babar Baks, a senior member of the mosque, said, I am 77 years old. This mosque was inaugurated by me. I first asked for the accounts. They said that all the accounts were in order. The mosque is not in debt to anyone. Then I inaugurated the work of the mosque. Since then, a lot of money has been raised. Every Friday, 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh taka is raised. But I have not received any accounts. They should have given accounts to the worshippers of the mosque. This is not right in any way.

The treasurer of the mosque, the senior cleric Alhaj Manzoor Khan Manzoor, said that I am the treasurer in name only. Now I am very old. They only come to me for a signature. And I give the signature. However, no accounts have been given. They said that they give accounts to the Waqf Estate. This senior cleric could not say anything else.

In this regard, the inspector of Waqf Estate Sylhet, Mustafizur Rahman, said that we have received a complaint. It will be investigated and action will be taken.

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