The shops have been leased out for 99 years violating act 56(1) of the Waqf law, said the mosque committee members.

As per the law, no Waqf estate is subject to sale. It could be leased out for a maximum period of 4 years by the committee and for permanent lease Waqf administrators' permission is compulsory.

Waqf Administrator Nepur Ahmed told Star City that he did not grant permission for permanent lease to the mosque committee.

When asked, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, general secretary Allah Karim Jamey Masque Waqf Estate Committee (AKJMWEC) said he was not aware of any such rules.

"I didn't know that such rules existed, and if it is so, we will terminate the contract," said Islam who is also the president of BNP ward no 46.

The secretary has taken lease of seven shops while the joint secretary and treasurer have taken five each.

The committee has also violated the OAWB order by constructing market on plot designated for the mosque.

In September 2001, OAWB allowed the previous mosque committee to demolish the old structure and construct a new one, on condition that no other establishment would be built on that plot.

But the existing 21-member committee that took office on April 14, 2004 for three years extended the market alongside the plot of the old mosque.

The general secretary also said that they did not violate OAWB's order.

"A very small part of the plot of the old mosque has been taken under the market. Only the stairs and few shops have partially fallen on that plot," said Islam.

The lessees said they were not ready to give up ownership.

"We have the contract and they cannot terminate it according to their whims and fancies. We will not stand to lose for their misdeeds," said a lease owner of a shop.

It is alleged that the committee's general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer are running the committee on their own with no involvement of the president, vice-president and most of the other committee members.

Ten members including the president of the existing 21-member committee brought a 'no confidence' motion against the general secretary, but it could not be passed due to lack of one vote.

"The committee have had three meetings in two years and I was not informed about them," said Dr. Sarafat Ali, president AKJMWEC.

"I submitted my resignation in May this year protesting the irregularities, but it has not been accepted as yet," said Ali.

Another committee member alleged that the general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer embezzled a huge amount of money from the mosque account.

Islam denied this allegation and said that since the committee did not have official bank account, they used their personal accounts to maintain the mosque funds until May 19, 2006 and have transacted more than Tk 1 crore during the construction of mosque and market.

The committee has not yet submitted the final account for 2003-04 fiscal year.

Office secretary of the existing committee, Mohammad Zahir Hossain filed a complaint with OAWB against general secretary Mohammad Shahidul Islam, joint secretary Mohammad Abdul Kader and treasurer Mohammad Sirajul Islam regarding irregularities by the committee.

"The quorum required of two-thirds of the members to pass a motion on leasing, but only seven were present,” said Mohammad Zahir Hossain, office secretary of existing AKJMWEC.

OAWB is now inquiring into the matter following his complaint.

"Our inspector has submitted the report after inspection. We have issued show-cause notices to the concerned persons. A hearing will take place after we receive their reply and out next course will follow accordingly,” said the Waqf Administrator.