Historic Pagla Mosque Donation Box Yields Nearly £1.2 Million

In a remarkable revelation, the donation box of Pagla Mosque, one of the most historic religious sites in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, has yielded nearly 12 crore BDT (approximately £1.1 million). Alongside the cash, authorities discovered a substantial collection of foreign currency and gold jewellery, highlighting the generosity of devotees from across the nation.

The announcement was made late on Saturday evening, around 7:45 pm, by Md. Ershadul Ahmed, Additional District Magistrate and head of the donation box-opening committee. The process began early in the morning, at 7 am, when 13 iron chests were carefully opened under the supervision of the district administration, local police, and members of the mosque’s management committee.

The contents were first transferred from the chests into sacks and then laid out on the floor for meticulous counting. By 7:30 pm, the final tally confirmed 11 crore 78 lakh 48 thousand 538 BDT in cash.

Compared to the previous opening, this year’s event was conducted after a shorter interval of 3 months and 27 days. In August, the donation boxes were opened after 4 months and 18 days, revealing 12 crore 9 lakh 37 thousand 220 BDT, along with foreign currency, gold ornaments, and diamonds.

The counting process saw the participation of nearly 500 individuals, including around 100 officials from Rupali Bank, students from two madrassas and the mosque’s orphanage, and members of the mosque management and law enforcement. District Commissioner Mohammad Aslam Molla and Superintendent of Police S.M. Farhad Hossain oversaw the operation, ensuring transparency and security throughout.

The District Commissioner explained that the mosque and Islamic complex’s routine expenses are met from donations, while the remaining funds are securely deposited in banks. Currently, over 104 crore BDT is held in cash at financial institutions, with an additional 12 lakh BDT received via online donations. Valuable foreign currency and gold jewellery are stored in the district treasury and will be auctioned at an appropriate time, with proceeds added to the primary fund.

The commissioner also confirmed that the mosque’s funds support local mosques, madrassas, orphanages, and healthcare for the disadvantaged and patients with complex medical conditions. The entire process, from opening the donation boxes to transferring funds to banks, was conducted under strict security measures.

Nestled on the banks of the Narsunda River in the western part of Kishoreganj, Pagla Mosque continues to attract visitors from across Bangladesh, irrespective of religion or caste, who come to offer their donations.

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