Membership & Fees
- Sylhet Funeral Committee is open to all persons who are of Bangladeshi origin from the Sylhet region and currently reside within the UK. Spouses and family members of members need not necessarily be of Bangladeshi origin.
- To join the funeral committee, there is a joining fee of £100 per person plus the current annual membership fee. Please note: membership to the committee is not automatic or guaranteed and exceptional family situations will need to be approved by the board first.
- A member is defined as the male guardian responsible for their family. In the case of no male guardian, the member will be the female guardian. Please note – members do not have to be the biological parent(s) of children. Those with guardianships and adopted children are eligible to join Sylhet Funeral Committee.
- Elderly persons of age 65 and above are eligible to join Sylhet Funeral Committee for a one-off payment of £1000. There will be no further fees for elderly persons.
- Members and their family members must be residents of the UK when joining Sylhet Funeral Committee. Members cannot add any family members living outside of the UK.
- Each member must agree to set up a standing order from their bank account to the Sylhet Funeral Committee (SFC) bank account for the annual membership amount (currently £100 per member), payable anytime within the month of January. All members are responsible for the payment of their annual membership fee.
- If membership payment is not received within the month of January, a £100 fine will be levied and payment must be paid by end of February. Important note! From the end of January, members and their family members will not be covered until all fees are paid. If by the end of February no payment is received at this point, membership to Sylhet Funeral Committee will officially cease. THERE WILL BE A £1000 REJOINING FEE + ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE IF THE MEMBER WISHES TO REJOIN IN THE FUTURE. Also there will be no refunds of paid membership fees at termination of membership.
- Once a male family member reaches the age of 18, they will need to pay their own membership fee and follow the rules separately. Once a female family member reaches the age of 25 or gets married (whichever is first), they will need to pay their own membership fee and follow the rules separately. After marriage, spouses and children from previous marriages (if applicable) will need to pay the joining fee to become eligible.
- Babies born to a member must be registered with Sylhet Funeral Committee within 6 months of birth.
- Members with more than one wife will need to pay joining fees for all wives and children covered and then the annual membership for each wife. For example. A male with 2 wives and a total of 3 children would pay £600 joining fee and then 2 x annual membership.
- The board reserves the right to terminate the membership of any member. No monies paid will be refunded if membership is terminated.
Deaths & Burials
- On the event of a death of a member or family member, please notify Sylhet Funeral Committee.
- UK DEATH & BURIAL – Sylhet Funeral Committee will pay for the full burial costs (purchase of burial plot and associated costs) and all fees such as deceased storage, transport and burial.
- If a member or family member dies away from their home city and within the UK, Sylhet Funeral Committee will pay the costs should the family wish to bring the body back to their home city. If the family chooses to bury the body where the person died, Sylhet Funeral Committee will pay this cost.
- UK DEATH & BANGLADESH BURIAL – If a member or family member dies whilst in the UK but wishes for burial in Bangladesh, Sylhet Funeral Committee will pay for the body to be transported via Biman Bangladesh Airlines to Sylhet, Bangladesh. Sylhet Funeral Committee will also pay for one economy return ticket for one member of the family to accompany the body back to Bangladesh. Reimbursement for the ticket will be given on production of payment receipt. Please note – if the family member changes the return dates whilst in Bangladesh and extra costs are incurred, these will NOT BE PAID by Sylhet Funeral Committee.
- OVERSEAS DEATH & BURIAL – If a member or family member dies whilst in Bangladesh, a payment of £1500 will be made to the member/member’s family.
- If a member or family member dies whilst outside the UK but in any other country except Bangladesh, costs for repatriation to the UK or Bangladesh or funeral costs in the country of death will be paid up to a maximum of £5000.
- Payments will either be made direct to the mosque/council/organisation on production of invoices by said mosque/council/organisation. If the funeral and burial costs are paid for by a member, they will be fully reimbursed on production of invoices. Please note – strictly no payments will be made without invoice(s).
- All payments will be made via BACS bank transfer to the designated account of the mosque/council/organisation/member or family member specified.
- In the unfortunate situation of the death of more than one member or family member at the same time, all rules above will apply.
- On the death of a baby born to a member, Sylhet Funeral Committee will pay for all burial costs and mosque fees, even if the baby had not been registered with Sylhet Funeral Committee within the first 6 months of birth as mentioned on Membership & Fees, point 8.
Emergency Collections
- Sylhet Funeral Committee will hold funds to ensure full payment of a minimum of 4 funerals (approximately £25,000) at all times.
- In the event of surplus outgoings in a single year – an additional collection or collections may be organised so that the minimum balance is maintained.
- Members will be informed of an emergency collection and will be given ample time for payment with a reasonable deadline in place as agreed by the Board. FAILURE TO PAY EMERGENCY COLLECTIONS MAY RESULT IN MEMBERSHIP TERMINATION.
Queries & Grievances
If for any reason a member has a query regarding Sylhet Funeral Committee or has a grievance relating to any rules, reimbursements, payments, terminations etc. they may seek clarification by speaking to a member of the Board. If a member wishes to appeal a decision, please contact a member of the board who will initially review the appeal. If required, the appeal will be put forward to an independent panel to ensure the appeal is heard with fairness, impartiality & so that there is no conflict of interest.
Bank Details
All payments must be made to the below account. Annual accounts for Sylhet Funeral Committee will be available to view by any member at any time.
Natwest Bank
Account Name: Sylhet Funeral Committee Ltd
Account Number: 80101623
Sort Code: 60-16-24