Counting underway with more than 500 people involved, and the funds will soon be deposited in a bank.
A record 35 sacks of cash, gold ornaments, and foreign currency have been recovered from 13 donation boxes at the historic Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj.
Every day, people of all classes, regardless of religion, come to the Pagla Mosque from far and wide of the country to donate. Every three to four months, a huge amount of money and foreign currency, including gold ornaments, are found when the donation chests of the Pagla Mosque on the banks of the Narsunda River in the district town are opened.
The donation boxes were opened this morning after three months and 27 days—a shorter interval than the previous opening. The money was removed from the boxes, packed into sacks, and spread out on the floor for counting.
On August 30, the mosque recorded Tk 12,09,37,220 in cash over four months and 18 days, along with foreign currency, gold, and diamonds.
Authorities hope this time's collection will surpass all previous records.
Besides cash donations, devotees from across the country regularly contribute various items such as poultry, cows, and goats.
The counting began at 7:00am today in the presence of Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and Mosque Committee President Mohammad Aslam Mollah, Superintendent of Police Dr SM Farhad Hossain, and Additional District Magistrate Md Ershadul Ahmed, convener of the donation box opening committee.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mijabe Rahmat and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Nahid Hasan Khan, and other officials and magistrates of the administration also joined them.
About 500 people are involved in the counting, including around 350 students from Al Jamiatul Imdadia and two madrasas under Pagla Mosque's orphanage, 100 employees from Rupali Bank, and members of the mosque committee, law enforcement agencies, and the army.
DC Mohammad Aslam Mollah said the donations are used to manage the mosque and Islamic complex, and the remaining funds are deposited in the bank. "So far, Tk 104 crore has been deposited in the bank in cash, and more than Tk 12 lakh has been deposited in the bank along with the online donations. After today's money counting, this money will also be deposited in the bank," he added.
He further said foreign currency and gold ornaments donated to the mosque are kept in the district administration's treasury and will be sold at public auction before being deposited with the original funds. The interest from deposited funds is used to help the helpless and those suffering from complex diseases.
SP Dr SM Farhad Hossain said he and his police members are ensuring overall security from opening the money chest, filling it in bags, counting, and delivering all the money safely to the bank. Law enforcement personnel also secure the chests on other days.
The mosque authorities said an Islamic complex centered on Pagla Mosque will be built on the model of multipurpose mosques located beside the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey. The 10-storey building will accommodate 40,000 to 50,000 worshippers and 5,000 women worshippers separately, with facilities for orphans, religious education, madrasa education, a library, cafeteria, and IT section.
