Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated a government programme to provide monthly honouraria to the heads and assistants of various religious institutions of all faiths across Bangladesh. He launched the initiative by pressing a button on the IBAS system, transferring funds directly to the bank accounts of imams, muazzins, and khadems of mosques, as well as the heads and assistant heads of other religious institutions. The transfers were conducted through the EFT system under a pilot scheme at a function held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Earlier in the proceedings, the Prime Minister distributed cheques for the honourarium among representatives of different religious groups. Upon receiving SMS notifications from their banks, the beneficiaries expressed gratitude, thanking the government and the Prime Minister for introducing the welfare programme. Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at 9:58 am and exchanged greetings with Islamic scholars and leaders of other faiths who joined him on stage.
Under the initiative, imams, muazzins, and khadems of mosques; priests and sebaits of temples; monks and deputy monks of Buddhist Vihars; and priests and assistant priests of churches will receive the allowance each month. A documentary detailing the programme was screened at the start of the event. The government introduced this programme for religious heads of all places of worship across the country in accordance with its election pledge to support religious leaders and promote social harmony.
In the first phase of the pilot scheme, one mosque from each union and municipality has been selected, totalling 4,908 mosques. For other places of worship, two temples from each upazila have been selected, totalling 990 temples. Similarly, two Buddhist monasteries from each of the 72 upazilas with such institutions, totalling 144 monasteries, and two churches from each of the 198 upazilas with churches, totalling 396 churches, have been included. Eventually, the programme aims to cover all religious institutions in the country.
The monthly allowances are fixed at 5,000 taka for an imam, 3,000 taka for a muazzin, and 2,000 taka for a khadem, meaning each mosque receives 10,000 taka per month. For temples, Buddhist monasteries, and churches, the allowance structure provides 5,000 taka for a priest, 3,000 taka for a sebait, 5,000 taka for the head monk of a Buddhist monastery, 3,000 taka for an assistant monk, 5,000 taka for a church priest, and 3,000 taka for an assistant priest. Each temple, Buddhist monastery, and church receives 8,000 taka per month under the programme.
In addition, imams, muazzins, and khadems will receive 1,000 taka each during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha as a festival allowance every year. Priests, sabaits, monks, and church leaders will receive 2,000 taka each during Durga Puja, Buddha Purnima, and Christmas. A total of 27.13 crore taka is required in the current financial year to implement the programme. The allowances will be sent to the selected beneficiaries through Sonali Bank, ensuring direct transfers and leaving no scope for corruption.
The function was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the guest of honour. The Prime Minister’s adviser for public administration and president of the implementation cell, Md Ismail Zabiullah, attended as a special guest, while Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) presided over the meeting. Other speakers included Shaykh-e-Charmonai Mufti Syed Fayzul Karim, Mufti Muhibbullahil Baki, Mufti Saiful Islam, freedom fighter Uday Sankar Chakraborty, Dharma Mitra Mahathero, and Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze.
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