Cash donations from the faithful at Pagla Masjid, a 250-year-old mosque in Kishoreganj, shattered all previous records, clocking Tk 7,78,67,537 (7 crore 78 lakh 67 thousand 537), an increase of nearly Tk 1.5 crore over last time, by the time counting finally wrapped up well past midnight on Saturday.
The final amount, rounded off to Tk 7.79 crore, was officially announced at 2am Sunday.
The previous highest, recorded in December 2023, had been Tk 6.32 crore, from 23 sacks of the 9 donation boxes of the mosque.
This time the 9 boxes yielded 27 sackloads of cash, apart from stones including gold jewellery, some foreign currency, and assorted items, which escape valuation.
Rupali Bank’s Kishoreganj corporate branch manager Md Rafiqul Islam, who was present till the end, verified the numbers for reporters.
Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and President of Pagla Mosque Committee Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Rasel Sheikh were present during the opening of the boxes on Saturday morning.
Under the supervision of six executive magistrates, including Additional District Magistrate Kazi Mahua Momtaz, 70 bank officials and employees, 34 teachers and 102 students of Pagla Mosque and Madrasa then started counting money.
Among the other items found, a forlorn lover’s prayer for God to bring him and the object of his affection together caused much fanfare throughout the day.
UNB is withholding their names since the communication was meant for God.
Shaukat Hossain, administrative officer of the mosque, had earlier confirmed to UNB that a new record had been set by evening already.
“According to the latest information, after counting till 8:30 tonight, we already have a new record for the highest money received in the history of Pagla Masjid,” Hossain said.
Although he added that the mosque authorities were anticipating crossing the Tk 8 crore mark, ultimately that wasn’t to be. Tk 7.79 crore is not far off though, and the authorities will be more than satisfied.
A new record had been anticipated this time given the steady upward trend noticed in the last year or two. On top of that the donation boxes that are usually opened every three months at the mosque, this time got four months and 10 days - nearly 40 days more - due to the holy month of Ramadan.