Protests erupt in Sylhet as DC Sarwoer spends final day in office

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Sylhet on Monday to protest the sudden withdrawal of Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwoer Alam, who spent his last working day in the district after the government issued the transfer order a day earlier.

Gathering under the banner "People from All Walks of Life in Sylhet," residents of Sylhet held a sit-in in front of the DC office, an official and eye-witnesses said.

When Sarwoer arrived, many embraced him and chanted slogans calling for him to remain in his post. A second sit-in was held at the same location in the afternoon, organised under the banner "Conscious Citizens of Sylhet."

Mohammad Ehsanul Haque Taher, President of the Sylhet Welfare Association, said the DC had earned widespread public admiration for bringing the finances of the shrine's donation cauldrons under official oversight — sealing them and introducing accountability measures. He alleged that this initiative had made Sarwar a target.

"The people of Sylhet have praised him for this work," Taher said.

Protesters further alleged that individuals who had previously benefited from the unregulated donation system engineered his removal after the DC's crackdown disrupted their alleged misappropriation of funds.

On his final day, Sarwoer visited the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal, the famous 14th century Sufi, and oversaw the opening of the sealed donation boxes for counting. 

Assistant Commissioner Abdul Basit Molla confirmed it was Sarwar's last working day in Sylhet.

"The total amount collected is Tk1,765,549, from three cauldrons sealed by the shrine authorities and four donation boxes set up by the district administration," Abdul Basit told Daily Waadaa. 

Last Thursday, Sarwoer's administration had sealed three of the shrine's famous cauldrons in the interest of financial transparency and installed four additional donation boxes on behalf of the district administration.

The Ministry of Public Administration on Sunday ordered Sarwar's withdrawal from Sylhet and his attachment to the ministry, without citing any reason. 

The abrupt move triggered widespread debate in the district, set against the backdrop of ongoing controversy over fund management at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shahporan.

Sarwoer, who previously served as an Executive Magistrate in Dhaka, was appointed Sylhet DC on 18 August last year. He joined the civil service in November 2008 as an Administration Cadre officer of the 27th BCS batch.