256,074 imams, muezzins, khadims will receive monthly honorariums: Ismail Zabiullah
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration (holding the rank of Minister) Md. Ismail Zabiullah stated that the BNP government will provide honorarium allowances to a total of 256,074 imams, muezzins, khadims, and other personnel associated with places of worship in the country during the current fiscal year.
The 7th meeting of the cell-constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office to implement the government’s election manifesto by introducing monthly honoraria and training-based welfare measures for mosque imams, muezzins, caretakers, and personnel at other religious places of worship-was held today at the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat. Md. Ismail Zabiullah, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration (holding the rank of Minister) and Chairperson of the cell, made these remarks while presiding over the meeting.
He stated that an allocation of Tk 1,100 crore has been made in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget to provide monthly honoraria to individuals working at various religious places of worship, including Imams, Muezzins, and caretakers.
Under this program, the allowance will be provided to 256,074 beneficiaries-representing one-fourth of the total-in the first year, and all religious institutions will be brought under its coverage over the next four years.
Under this initiative, the funds will be distributed to 247,968 beneficiaries from 82,656 mosques, 6,000 from 3,000 temples, 1,504 from 752 Buddhist monasteries, and 602 from 301 churches during the current fiscal year.
Md. Ismail Zabiullah stated that in the 2025-26 fiscal year, honorariums were provided to a total of 13,949 individuals-including Imams, Muezzins, Khadims, and other personnel working at religious places of worship-across 6,017 selected religious institutions in the country.
The Adviser on Public Administration mentioned that this honorarium will be paid on a monthly basis at the following rates: Tk 5,000 for Imams, Hindu priests, Vihara heads, and Christian clergy; Tk 3,000 for Muezzins, temple caretakers (Sebayats), deputy Vihara heads, and assistant clergy; and Tk 2,000 for mosque Khadims. Additionally, each recipient will receive an annual festival allowance of Tk 2,000. This payment will be made via mobile banking or directly into bank accounts, based on the beneficiaries’ preference.
The meeting was attended by Mir Shahe Alam MP, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives; Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, MP for Shariatpur-3; Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, MP for Gaibandha-4; the Secretaries of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare; the Director General of the Islamic Foundation; the Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau; and representatives from the Finance Division and the Local Government Division.
