PM to Launch Allowance Programme for Imams on Mar 14

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. File Photo

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate a government programme on March 14 to provide monthly allowances to imams and muezzins of mosques across the country.

Prime Minister’s Adviser for Public Administration Md Ismail Zabiullah disclosed the information while speaking to journalists at the office of the Religious Affairs Adviser at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

He said introducing an honorarium and training-based welfare system for religious leaders of all faiths was one of the election pledges of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), aimed at strengthening religious and social harmony in the country.

According to him, since the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assumed office, steps have been taken to gradually implement the key commitments of its election manifesto. Initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmer’s Card programmes are also part of those flagship pledges.

As part of this effort, the government has taken steps to introduce a monthly honorarium for imams, muezzins and khadems in mosques, along with individuals serving in other places of worship.

In the first phase, the programme will be launched under a pilot scheme before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

Under the pilot project, one mosque from each union and municipality has been selected, bringing the total number of mosques to 4,908. For other places of worship, two temples from each upazila have been chosen, totalling 990 temples.

He added that since Buddhist monasteries exist in 72 upazilas, two from each upazila have been selected, making a total of 144 monasteries. Similarly, churches are present in 198 upazilas, and two from each upazila—totalling 396 churches—have been included in the programme.

Under the scheme, the monthly allowance has been fixed at Tk 5,000 for an imam, Tk 3,000 for a muezzin and Tk 2,000 for a khadem, meaning each mosque will receive Tk 10,000 per month in total.

For other religious institutions, the structure will include Tk 5,000 for a temple priest and Tk 3,000 for a sebayet (caretaker), Tk 5,000 for the head monk of a Buddhist monastery and Tk 3,000 for an assistant monk, and Tk 5,000 for a church priest and Tk 3,000 for an assistant priest. Each temple, monastery and church will receive Tk 8,000 per month.

The adviser said imams, muezzins and khadems will also receive Tk 1,000 each during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha as festival allowances every year. Priests, sebayets, head monks, assistant monks and church clergy will receive Tk 2,000 each during Durga Puja, Buddha Purnima and Christmas.

He said Tk 27.13 crore will be required in the current fiscal year to implement the programme. The allowances are expected to be transferred to the selected beneficiaries through Sonali Bank by March 15.

The funds will be sent directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, leaving no scope for corruption, he added.