Zakir Azad, Cumilla

The authorities are in trouble with the electricity bills of 40 lakh 64 thousand taka in 8 model mosques in Cumilla . Although the electricity bills are supposed to be paid with donations from the devotees, the authorities said that the huge amount of electricity bills that come to the huge complex of the model mosque cannot be paid with donations alone.

In addition, since most of the model mosques and Islamic cultural centers are built in localities and far from the markets, the amount of donations is also less due to the low attendance of devotees. Due to this, it is not possible to meet the electricity bills and other related expenses from the income of the mosque, said the Islamic Foundation, which is in charge of the supervision of the model mosque. Cumilla Islamic Foundation Assistant Director Mohammad Sahab Uddin said that a total of 11 model mosques have been inaugurated in Cumilla district. Of these, regular prayers have started in nine, of which 8 mosques have outstanding electricity bills of 40 lakh 64 thousand 306 taka.

Only the imam and muezzin of the mosque receive honorarium from the Islamic Foundation, all the rest of the expenses will have to be spent from the money donated by the worshipers who come to pray in the mosques. But the donation money alone is not enough to cover the monthly electricity bill, cleanliness and other expenses of such a large complex building. Expensive chandeliers, hundreds of lights, fans, ACs are run in each prayer room of the model mosque. Separate ablution and prayer places for men and women, library, research center, registration of Hajj passengers, accommodation for tourists, invitation activities, Hifz Madrasa, Maktab, bathing arrangements for the deceased, housing project for the imam and muezzin of the mosque, and other multifaceted Islamic activities and services are mentioned.

According to the Islamic Foundation Cumilla office, the electricity bill of the Cumilla Daudkandi Upazila Model Mosque is 10 lakh 990 taka, which has accumulated over the last 23 months. In addition, the electricity bill of the Cumilla District Model Mosque is 1 lakh 45 thousand 642 taka, the bill of the Burichang Upazila Model Mosque is 7 lakh 24 thousand 652 taka, the bill of the Nangalkot Upazila Model Mosque is 3 lakh 37 thousand 741 taka, the bill of the Chandina Upazila Model Mosque is 6 lakh 57 thousand 948 taka, the bill of the Brahmanpara Upazila Model Mosque is 5 lakh 60 thousand 684 taka, the bill of the Debidwar Model Mosque is 86 thousand 649 taka and the bill of the Chauddagram Upazila Model Mosque is 55 thousand taka. MA Sattar, the officer in charge of the Daudkandi Upazila Model Mosque, said that the model mosque receives an average bill of more than 40 thousand taka every month. It gets more during the summer. Apart from the electric bill, money has to be spent on other maintenance of the mosque from the money donated by the boys. But the donation box does not have enough money. That is why the electric bill has accumulated and exceeded 10 lakh taka.

The villagers are pressuring to pay the electricity bill. He also said that the model mosques have been given commercial electric connections, which is why the bills are even higher. Burichang Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Cumilla , Sahida Akhter, said that the mosque does not have its own revenue system, it has to meet its expenses from the money donated by the devotees. If more devotees do not gather in the mosque, the money donated will not increase. The electricity bill has accumulated arrears. We are in trouble about this. Although the District Commissioner's Office has provided some assistance, the Electricity Department is constantly pressuring to pay the bill.

Md. Nurul Hossain, General Manager of Cumilla Palli Bidyut Samity 3, said that measures are being taken in consultation with the concerned Upazila Nirbahi Officer regarding the electric connection of the model mosques. We are making arrangements on how to change the electric connections. However, the amount of outstanding electricity bills in model mosques is increasing.

Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md. Amirul Kaiser said that measures are being taken to reduce the load on the electrical connections of model mosques to reduce the pressure of additional electricity bills. The model mosques are in such a place that there is no opportunity to meet these expenses even if there is any commercial arrangement, so we have to depend on donations for these expenses. We are getting some cooperation from the district administration - apart from that, there is really nothing to do.