Shahjalal Mosque&Islamic Centre
1A EILEEN GROVERUSHOLME
MANCHESTER
M14 5WE

TEL: 0161 613 2123

Email: info@shahjalalmosque.org
www.shahjalalmosque.org
Charity Registration No. 1139992

July 2015

PREAMBLE
In the year 1967 the Muslim community of Bangladeshi origin (thenEast Pakistan) living in Manchester and adjoining towns decided toestablish a Mosque of their own from donations and contributions
from members of its own community. Late Messrs. Muhammad
Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Bosharat Ali, Syed Abdul Hannan andMakaddus Bakht were elected as holding trustees and given thetask of completing the purchase of the building at 1A Eileen Grove,
Rusholme, Manchester, previously owned by Maclaren Public
Institute. Soon afterwards the Mosque started functioning in thesaid premises.
At a public meeting in May 1975, it was decided to call the building"Shahjalal Mosque and Islamic Centre" and also to form acommittee to run the organisation. In the following week, at a
meeting of the general body of membership of the Mosque, acommittee was formed to frame a constitution for the Mosque for its
smooth running and maintenance, and for the fulfillment of theaims and objectives of the organization as outlined in 1967.
A draft constitution was presented to the committee on the 8thJune, 1975 and subsequently on the 4th January, 1976 the first
constitution of Shahjalal Mosque and Islamic Centre was approvedat the meeting of the general body of membership of theBangladeshi Muslim community, presided over by late Mr.
Muhammad Abdul Matin Chowdhury.
To cater for the changing of the community, to update certain
provisions and to clarify ambiguity of some of the clauses, it wasfelt that the constitution needed large-scale modifications. At theAnnual General Meeting of 1985 it was decided to form an ad hoc
committee to write a new constitution. Draft for this constitution
was presented to the Executive Committee in October 1986, which
was followed by consultations and discussions amongst ordinary
members of the Mosque and members of the Executive Committee,resulting in alteration and modifications of the original draft. The
final draft was presented to the members in the Annual General
Meeting of 25th January 1987, and it was approved after further
minor modifications.
July 2015

Page 2 of 10CONSTITUTION
1

NAME:Shahjalal Mosque and Islamic Centre (hereinafter referred toas the Mosque).

2ADDRESS:
1A Eileen Grove, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5WE.

3AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
To advance the Islamic faith of the Bangladeshi Muslim
inhabitants in the area of benefit (to include Manchester,
Salford and the boroughs of Bolton, Bury, Macclesfield,Stockport, Trafford, Warrington and Wigan) through prayer,worship, Islamic teachings and religious services.
To advance education and provide facilities in the interests ofsocial awareness, social welfare and leisure-time occupation
with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said
inhabitants.
To relieve poverty, sickness and distress amongst individuals
in the area of benefit who are in need by making grants ofmoney for providing or paying for items services or facilities.
To establish, or secure the establishment of a Mosque andIslamic Centre and to maintain and manage the same infurtherance of these objects.

July 2015

Page 3 of 10

4MEMBERSHIP:

4.1 All members over the age of sixteen of the Bangladeshi Muslim
community resident in the catchment area of the Mosque shallbe eligible to he bona fide members of the Mosque.
4.2

Any other person who is a believer of Islam may be acceptedby the Executive Committee as an Associate Member of theMosque. Such a member will not be eligible to be a member ofthe Executive Committee or to take part in any election,although he/she will enjoy all the other facilities provided bythe Mosque.

4.3

There shall be a prescribed biennial membership fee asrecommended by the Executive Committee and approved by
the general body of members in the Annual General Meeting.
This fee shall be due on admission to the membership.

4.4

Widows, old age pensioners, full-time students, at thediscretion of the Executive Committee, may be exempted frompaying membership fees; however such exemption shall makea member ineligible from voting in elections and ineligible fornomination as a member of the Executive Committee,

4.5

A member failing to pay the membership fee within 30 (thirty)
days of the due date shall automatically lose the status of abona fide member of the mosque.

4.6 The Executive Committee shall have the power to terminate or
temporarily suspend the membership of any person whoseconduct, in the opinion of the Committee, has been
detrimental to the interests of the Masque, spirit of Islam orwelfare of the Muslim community. Such a member shall begiven a chance to explain his/her conduct at an Annual

General Meeting and the decision of that meeting shallbe final.

4.7 Memberships once closed shall not be open until after 2(two) years.
July 2015

Page 4 of 10

5EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

5.1 The Executive Committee 0f 21 (twenty one) members,including 9 (nine) Honorary Officers shall be elected for a twoyear term of office or until his/her resignation, or death, orhaving moved away from the catchment area of the Mosque orhaving been convicted of a criminal offence. These 21 members
may be elected individually and must be over the age of 18.
The members of the Executive Committee are the trustees ofthe Mosque.
5.2

The Honorary Officers are:i)Chairmanii)
Vice Chairmaniii)
General Secretaryiv)
Joint Secretaryv)
Treasurervi)
Joint Treasurervii)
Organising Secretaryviii)
Office Secretaryix)
Press and Publication Secretary

5.3 A bona fide member of the Mosque shall be eligible to serve asa member of the Executive Committee.
5.4 It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to carry out thegeneral policy of the Mosque as outlined, in clause 3 and,subject to any condition imposed by the membership throughresolutions of Annual General Meeting or extraordinary
General Meeting, to provide for the administration,management and control of affairs and property of theMosque.
5.5

Members of the Executive Committee shall jointly andseverally be responsible to the general body of membershipfor all the activities in relation to or connected to the Mosqueduring their tenure of office.

5.6

The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint,
dismiss and fix remunerations of all the salaried staff of theMosque as required to carry out the functions of the Mosque.

July 2015

Page 5 of 10

5.7

The Executive Committee shall have the option of creating
sub-committees and nominating members of such sub-committees for carrying out work in the particular field.
A sub-committee so constituted shall remain responsible
for all its actions.

5.8

A casual vacancy in the Executive Committee shall befilled by the Executive Committee through the co-optionof a bonafide member of the Mosque and the person soco-opted shall hold office until the next Annual GeneralMeeting.

5.9

The Honorary officers will be responsible for the day to day
running of the Mosque. They will take all the action necessary
in consultation among themselves with a simple majority. The
Chairman, on behalf of them will report all such actions in thenext meeting of the Executive Committee for its approval.

5.10 Executive Committee shall have the power to adopt and issue
standing Orders and/or rules necessary for the betterment ofthe Mosque and these standing orders and/or rules shall comeinto force immediately, provided they shall not be inconsistent
with or contrary to provision and spirit of Mosque Constitution.
5.11 For the enhancement of the Mosque activities, the Executive
Committee shall have the right to co-opt up to 4 persons to
the Committee as and when required.

6MEETING:

6.1

The Executive Committee shall meet as often as necessary,
but not less than once a month.

6.2

The general body of membership shall attend the Annual
General Meeting to be held in the month of June/July of eachyear. At least 21 (twenty one) days' notice thereof shall begiven to the members. The Executive Committee shall present
the Annual Report of work done on behalf of the Mosque at theAnnual General Meeting.

July 2015

Page 6 of 10

6.3

Besides the Annual General Meeting, the Executive Committee
shall be entitled to call an Extraordinary General Meeting formatters requiring immediate approval of the general body ofmembers, the period of notice for such a meeting shall not beless than 7 (seven) days.

6.4

The Executive Committee shall also be entitled to call public
meetings to be attended by the general body of themembership of the Mosque, as well as other adult members of
the Bangladeshi Muslim communities in the catchment area, todecide on broad issues affecting the lives of the public ingeneral. Notice for such a meeting shall be widely circulated in
the catchment area at least 21 (twenty one) days before thedate of the meeting.

6.5

Agreement to or approval of decisions/actions in any of themeetings mentioned in Clauses 6.1 to 6.5 shall require asimple majority of members attending the meeting except forthe provision of Clause 11.2 regarding amendment to theConstitution.

7

QUORUM:

7.1

Eight [8] members attending shall form a quorum for an
Executive Committee Meeting.

7.2

Fifty-one [51] full members shall form the Quorum for theAnnual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meetingsof the Mosque. An adjourned meeting does not need aquorum.

8

HOLDING TRUSTEES:

8.1

There shall be 4 (four) holding trustees of the Mosque electedby the general body of membership preferably from amongst
the founder members of the Mosque so long as such amember is available and voluntarily offers his services.

8.2

All immovable property and land belonging to the Mosque shallbe held by the holding trustees in their names so far asnecessary for the use and benefit of the Mosque.

July 2015

Page 7 of 10

8.3 A holding trustee shall hold office permanently or until his/her
resignation or death or having moved far away from thecatchment area of the Mosque or having been convicted of aserious criminal offence.
8.4

In the event of a holding trustee's post falling vacant or when
it is deemed necessary to remove a holding trustee, thegeneral body of membership shall elect a new holding trustee.

8.5

Holding trustees once appointed should not be members of theMosque Executive Committee and will not be eligible ascandidates in the Biennial General Election.

9FINANCE:

9.1

The following shall constitute the fund of the Mosque:i)Biennial membership feesii)
Donations and special collections,iii)
Grants.

9.2 The Executive Committee shall have the power to raise moneyby means of donations, gifts, legacies, grant-in-aid, from
Statutory Authorities and other loans and fund raising events.
9.3

The Mosque fund shall be kept in a bank approved by theExecutive Committee in the name of "Shahjalal Mosque andIslamic Centre". The bank account shall be operated jointly by
the Chairman, the General Secretary and the Treasurer shall
operate.

9.4

The Executive Committee shall have the power to spend up to£10,000 (ten thousand pounds) in a year, excluding the salaryof the employees and bills for standard services like electricity,gas, water, legal fees, building maintenance, etc. Approval of
the general body of membership shall be required for any
single expenditure of more than £2,500 (two thousand five
hundred pounds) except for construction work.

9.5

The accounting year shall run from 1st of April to 31st ofMarch and the Executive Committee shall be responsible for
producing an audited account of the Mosque for an accounting
year for approval of the general body of membership at theAnnual General Meeting.

July 2015

Page 8 of 10

10ELECTION:

10.1

The bi-annual election of the members of the Executive
Committee to be held at a date to be fixed at the Annual
General Meeting, and again will be organised by the outgoing
Executive Committee, all members of which will be eligible forre-election.

10.2

Notice shall be given to the members at least 28 (twentyeight) days before the date of election inviting nominations forthe posts of Honorary Officers and 14 (fourteen) othermembers of the Executive Committee.

10.3 The Election Commissioner for the bi-annual election shall beselected by the Executive Committee.
10.4 Nominations shall be submitted to the Election Commissioner
not later than 2 (two) weeks and may be withdrawn not later
than 1 (one) week before the date of the election.
10.5 All the bona fide members shall be entitled to 1 (one) vote foreach of the 21 (twenty one) posts.
10.6 Usually voting for each of the contested posts shall be carriedout by a secret ballot unless the Election Commissioner
proposes any other method approved by the members.

11AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION:

11.1 Any proposal for the amendment or alteration of a clause of
the Constitution must be signed by at least 7 (seven) bonafide
members of the Mosque and submitted to the General
Secretary at least 14 (fourteen) days before the date of theAnnual General Meeting.
11.2 Such a proposal shall require a two-thirds majority ofmembers attending the meeting for approval.

July 2015

Page 9 of 10

12

DISSOLUTION:
If, because of genuine reasons, the Executive Committee finds
it absolutely necessary to dissolve the Shahjalal Mosque andIslamic Centre, in the interest of Bangladeshi Muslim
communities in the catchment area, it shall inform the holding
trustees about its decision and call a Public Meeting according
to the provision of Clause 6.4. Notice for such a meeting shallcontain the resolution of the Executive Committee. It shall beadvertised in the local newspapers and a copy sent to theCharity Commissioners of England and Wales. If the resolution
is confirms in the Public Meeting by a two-thirds majority, theExecutive Committee shall have the power to dispose of theassets of the Mosque to which the holding trustees shallextend their full co-operation.
Any assets of the Mosque remaining after the satisfaction of
any proper debts and liabilities shall be applied towards suchcharitable purposes for the benefit of Bangladeshi Muslims in
the catchment area and such a decision may be approved theCharity Commissioners for England and Wales.

[As amended at the Annual General Meeting held on 26th
July 2015.]

Al-haj Surabur Rahman
Chairman.

July 2015

Page 10 of 10