The Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Wednesday said the government will cooperate fully to ensure transparency and accountability at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal in Sylhet.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting ongoing activities of the ministry at Sylhet Osmani International Airport, the minister praised former Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sarwoer Alam's initiative of publicly counting shrine donations.

"He [Sarwoer] has opened our eyes," Ariful said.

The minister said he discussed the matter with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, also the member of parliament from Sylhet-1.

"We are all on the same page. We will work to meet people’s expectations regarding the shrine. Transparency at the shrines will be ensured very soon," Ariful said.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Sylhet on Monday to protest the government order transferring Sarwoer in an abrupt move that triggered debate in the district, set against the backdrop of ongoing controversy over fund management at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shahporan.

On the same day, which was Sarwoer’s last working day at the district, he visited the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal, the famous 14th century Sufi, and oversaw the opening of the donation boxes his administration sealed four days ago.

The total amount collected was Tk1,765,549, from three cauldrons sealed by the shrine authorities and four donation boxes set up by the district administration.