The 7th meeting of the cell formed by the Prime Minister's Office to implement the government's election manifesto—aimed at introducing monthly honorariums and training-based welfare measures for imams, muazzins, khadems at mosques, and personnel working at other religious places of worship—was held today at the meeting room of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in the Bangladesh Secretariat. In his address as Chair of the meeting, Prime Minister's Advisor for Public Administration (with Minister status) and President of the Cell, Md. Ismail Zabihullah, made the announcement.
He stated that a budget allocation of Tk 1,100 crore has been made for the 2026-27 fiscal year to provide monthly honorariums to imams, muazzins, khadems, and personnel working at various religious places of worship. Under this program, in the first year, a quarter of the country's total beneficiaries—256,074 individuals—will receive this allowance, with all religious institutions to be covered within the next four years. This includes: 247,968 individuals from 82,656 mosques, 6,000 individuals from 3,000 temples, 1,504 individuals from 752 Buddhist monasteries, and 602 individuals from 301 churches.
Md. Ismail Zabihullah said that in the previous 2025-26 fiscal year, a total of 13,949 personnel—including imams, muazzins, khadems from 6,017 selected religious institutions and personnel from other places of worship—were provided honorariums.
The Public Administration Advisor said that the monthly honorarium will be Tk 5,000 for imams, priests, heads of monasteries, and pastors; Tk 3,000 for muazzins, sebayits (temple attendants), deputy heads of monasteries, and assistant pastors; and Tk 2,000 for mosque khadems (caretakers). Additionally, each beneficiary will receive a festival allowance of Tk 2,000 per year. Payments will be made through mobile banking or direct bank accounts as per the beneficiary's preference.
The meeting was attended by the State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Mir Shah Alam MP; Whip Mian Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, MP for Shariatpur-3; Mohammad Shamim Kayser, MP for Gaibandha-4; Secretaries from the Ministries of Religious Affairs and Social Welfare; the Director General of the Islamic Foundation; the Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau; and representatives from the Finance Division and Local Government Division.
