Lukman Ahmed, Sylhet

In this era of information technology, the practice of writing letters has almost disappeared. In the era of mobile phones, social media and instant messaging, handwritten letters are a thing of the past. However, for a certain group of people, letters are still the most sincere means of expressing their feelings.

They write down the hopes, love, suffering, complaints or prayers hidden deep in their hearts, mixing them with the sweetness of their hearts. And the address of that letter has become the donation box of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) Shrine in Sylhet.

The donation box, where people donate money, has now become a 'mailbox' for people to express their unspoken feelings. Along with money, letters of emotion, love, wishes, complaints, and expectations from fans are being deposited there.

Several such exceptional letters and notes were found during the counting of money from the donation box and deg at the historic Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) shrine in Sylhet. These writings reveal various aspects of people's personal lives as well as their thoughts on society and the state.
In a note, Aminul expressed his love for his wife Munni and prayed to God to keep their relationship strong. He wrote, "Munni is my wife, I love her very much. May the relationship between Munni and Aminul last for a thousand years." The letter also prayed for peace in the family, an end to misunderstandings, financial prosperity, and protection from enemies.

Another letter raises allegations about the management of the shrine. The note, which mentions the name 'Abu Jalil Habib,' makes various allegations against a person named 'Khokon' and demands the return of former Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam to Sylhet. The last part of the letter reads - "Sarwar Alam should return to Sylhet."
Meanwhile, a letter addressed to the Prime Minister was also found in the donation box. It expressed concern over the law and order situation in the country and called for ensuring speedy trial of serious crimes including rape, murder, and child abuse. The writer demanded a speedy conclusion to the trials of several high-profile incidents against children and also expressed concern over the lengthy trial process.

The letter also expresses concern over the spread of drugs. The writer calls for effective steps to reduce the impact of drugs on society. The letter ends with the words "I love Bangladesh" and is signed by 'Mohammad Zubair Ahmed'.

The second counting of the money in the donation boxes of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) Shrine in Sylhet began on Saturday (July 11). The activity was conducted in the presence of members of the district administration and shrine management committee. These letters and notes were found during the counting of the money received from the three historical degs and five small and large donation boxes of the shrine.

Earlier, former Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md. Sarwar Alam took the initiative to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of income and expenditure of the shrine. On his initiative, the old donation boxes were sealed, new donation boxes were installed, and the historical degs were also sealed. This generated both praise and criticism. Later, he was attached to the Ministry of Public Administration as Deputy Secretary.

However, these letters found in the donation box of the shrine have reminded us anew that even with the rapid changes in technology, the appeal of handwritten letters to express people's feelings has not yet faded. For some, it is a language of love, for some, a means of expressing complaints, and for others, a last resort of prayer. So, the donation box of Shahjalal (RA) Shrine is now not just a donation box, but has become a silent 'mailbox' for many to convey their thoughts.