Dhaka: The government is set to initiate a welfare programme aimed at providing honorariums and training for imams, muazzins, khadems, and other staff members of mosques and various places of worship starting March 14. This announcement was made at a press briefing held at the Secretariat on Sunday by Md Ismail Zabihullah, who serves as an adviser to the Prime Minister and President of the cell responsible for implementing this programme.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Religious Affairs Minister, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain, was also present at the briefing. The new initiative will allocate a monthly amount of Tk 10,000 for mosques, which will be distributed among the staff as follows: imams will receive Tk 5,000, muezzins Tk 3,000, and khadems Tk 2,000.
For temples, Buddhist monasteries, and churches, the monthly allocation will be set at Tk 8,000. In temples, priests are to receive Tk 5,000 and caretakers Tk 3,000. Within Buddhist monasteries, the principal will receive Tk 5,000, while the deputy principal will be allocated Tk 3,000. In churches, priests will be granted Tk 5,000, with assistant priests receiving Tk 3,000.