A total of 43 sacks of cash have been recovered after the opening of 13 donation boxes at the renowned Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj.
The boxes were opened at 7:00am on Saturday, six months after the previous collection, in the presence of officials from the district administration, police, and the mosque management committee.
The money was transferred in sacks to the mosque's second floor, where counting is now underway. More than 500 people are participating in the process, including around 100 officials and employees of Rupali Bank, approximately 350 students from Al Jamiatul Imdadia Madrasa and the Pagla Mosque orphanage and madrasa, members of the mosque committee, and law enforcement personnel.
Officials believe this collection could surpass all previous records, as the donation boxes were opened after a six-month interval.
The counting process is being supervised by Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and Mosque Management Committee President Sohana Nasrin and Additional Superintendent of Police Najmus Sakib Khan. Several senior district administration officials are also overseeing the operation.
Mohammad Ali Harichi, Assistant General Manager of Rupali Bank, said that in addition to cash, foreign currencies and gold and silver jewelry were also found in the donation boxes. He added that counting is expected to continue until the evening or even late at night.
Strict security measures have been put in place throughout the operation.
Additional Superintendent of Police Najmus Sakib Khan said maximum security has been ensured at every stage—from opening the donation boxes and counting the money to depositing the funds in the bank. He noted that the donation boxes remain under security throughout the year.
Located on the banks of the Narsunda River in the Harua area west of Kishoreganj town, Pagla Mosque attracts donations from people of all faiths and backgrounds across Bangladesh. Besides cash, devotees also donate gold ornaments, livestock, poultry, and other valuables, which are recorded separately.
Deputy Commissioner Sohana Nasrin said that after meeting the mosque's operational expenses, the remaining funds are deposited in the bank. She revealed that the mosque currently has more than Tk 1 billion (over Tk 100 crore) in direct donation deposits. Foreign currencies and a large quantity of gold ornaments are stored in the district treasury and will be auctioned publicly at an appropriate time, with the proceeds also deposited into the bank.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
