From letter to PM to prayers for husband’s job, Shah Jalal shrine’s boxes become a channel for personal feelings

Once, letters were among the few ways to communicate with distant loved ones and others. Days would pass in eager anticipation as heartfelt words were sealed in envelopes and sent away. Today, with the advent of information technology, communication has become instantaneous through SMS, Messenger, WhatsApp and email.

Yet, even in an age of instant digital communication, some people still turn to letters to express their deepest emotions and share things they may find difficult to communicate elsewhere.

During the latest public counting of donations at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal in Sylhet on Saturday, which yielded more than 88.65 lakh taka along with jewellery and foreign currencies, those counting the donations also found letters bearing senders’ names as well as anonymous ones.

Similar letters were found during the previous four public counts.

The letters reveal a range of sentiments, from political appeals and allegations of financial irregularities to personal grievances, prayers for loved ones and requests for jobs.

It was the fifth public counting of donations since former Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwoer Alam had the centuries-old traditional donation cauldrons, known as degs, at the historic shrine locked.

One letter contained an appeal to BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging the party to introduce organisational rules requiring specific educational qualifications and age limits for membership.

The unnamed writer expressed a desire for political change and reform within the party.

“Dear Mr Tarique Rahman, I want SSC to be compulsory for becoming a BNP member at the grassroots level, with a minimum GPA of 2.50. To become a party worker, HSC should be compulsory, with a minimum GPA of 3.50. In short, no one should be allowed to join BNP politics from Class One until completing the SSC examination,” the letter read.

The writer said he had joined BNP politics in 2011 but was forced to leave soon afterwards because of what he described as the prevalence of weapons and a lack of education in politics.

“I want the change to come through you [Tarique Rahman]....,” he wrote.

Another letter, addressed to the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), named 10 individuals and called for an investigation into alleged irregularities in the management of the shrine’s funds and assets, as well as legal action against those responsible.

The individuals named in the letter were Shamun Mahmud Khan, Nur Islam Pacha, Ruh-er Ahmed Moni, Rong Babul, Dewan, Taher, Dhan Chura Akhtar, Sourav Sohel (cook), Bakri Khokon and Badrunur Saek.

According to the letter, the individuals named were involved in providing services at the shrine.

A letter marking the birthday of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina was also found in a donation box. Written by Mohammad Mamun Hossain Munna on behalf of the Awami League’s Ward 24 unit under Lalbagh thana, the letter offered prayers for Hasina’s good health and expressed hope that she would return as a beacon of hope for the people of Bangladesh.

Dated September 28, 2026, Hasina’s birthday, the letter read: “On the occasion of the 80th birthday of Bangabandhu's daughter, Deshratna Sheikh Hasina, I am praying for our leader at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal. May Allah keep her healthy at all times and may she return as a beacon of hope for the people of Bangladesh.”

In another letter, an unnamed woman sought a job for her husband, appealing to the saint for help.

“O Shah Jalal, may Allah's mercy be upon you. Through your intercession, please grant my husband a good job and bless him with peace of mind,” she wrote.

A man from Bhairab named Abu Bakkar Siddique, meanwhile, deposited a letter expressing anguish over what he described as betrayal by his elder brother.

“With all the pain and anguish in my heart, I dedicate this letter to the donation box at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA). I am the youngest among my brothers. My elder brother gave me many promises of taking me abroad but ultimately deceived me. I can no longer bear this mental anguish and betrayal; I am being destroyed from within,” he wrote.

“I humbly request the shrine's committee to please deliver this letter to the media so that everyone can know what is in my heart. I wish no harm to anyone. I pray to God that my brother becomes the owner of thousands of crores of taka, but that no other brother ever goes through what I have experienced.”

Abdullah Al Mamun, Sylhet deputy commissioner and convener of the shrine management committee, said people often used letters to express thoughts they could not share openly or post on Facebook.

“We have not actually read the letters yet; they are with us. We will gradually look through them and see what can be done,” he said.

“Many people write personal letters. We do not know what everyone is thinking when they write them. Some ask for jobs, others pray for children, and letters of this kind also arrive,” he added.

Asked about the letter addressed to the ACC chairman, Al Mamun said the shrine management committee would look into the allegations.

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