Staff Reporter :
Sensational allegations have been made regarding the appointment of an Imam at the Jame Masjid of the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company in Comilla. Since a new Imam has not been appointed for a long time after the regular Imam retired, the institution is illegally appointing a computer operator instead of appointing an Imam — which is questionable in terms of religious rules, administrative rules, and public safety.
On October 1, 2022, the mosque’s regular imam, Abu Saleh Md. Abdul Qayyum, retired. After that, the muezzin temporarily served as imam, but later, local worshippers and the mosque committee unanimously recommended three names for the appointment of imams.
But there are allegations that the then Managing Director Shankhar Majumdar, Bimal Chandra Debnath (Reference No. 697) of the Establishment Department and Belayat Hossain, the then DGM of the Public Relations Department, illegally changed the process in exchange for a large sum of money. As a result, a person named Kazi Mohammad Enamul Haque was appointed as a computer operator and placed in charge of the Imam, who was neither religiously trained nor a qualified scholar.
Religious and administrative stakeholders have commented that this is not only an irregularity, but also an illegal step. According to government recruitment policies, to be appointed as an imam of a mosque, it is mandatory for a candidate to pass the prescribed religious qualifications, training, and verification process.
It is worth noting that since the mosque is located within a reserved government office area, access to the general public is limited, so this irregularity remained hidden for a long time. However, now the issue has sparked widespread discussion and anger among worshippers.
A local worshipper expressed his anger and said, “We pray believing that a trained imam is leading the prayers. But now we hear that he is a computer operator! This is a betrayal of us, and an insult to the mosque.”
Experts are also commenting that the matter is an investigateable and punishable crime. They say that such irregularities and illegal appointments surrounding religious institutions are not only an insult to religious sentiments, but also a blatant example of administrative corruption.
Common Service GM Aftab Uddin said on the phone, “The establishment department can tell how a computer operator performs his duties as an imam.”
The company’s GM (Admin) said on the phone, “The matter of appointing an imam is up to Petrobanglar, we will give the demand. Since the post of imam is vacant, a computer operator has been deemed worthy of leading the imam and has been given the responsibility for a few days.”
The process of permanent recruitment is ongoing and this measure has been taken to temporarily manage the situation.
As a government institution, the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company should immediately investigate the true facts, take action against those responsible, and appoint a qualified and trained imam.
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