87,309 religious institutions get state honorarium

A total of 87,309 religious institutions will come under the state honorarium programme in the 2026-27 fiscal year, benefiting 2,56,074 religious leaders, as the government moves to expand the scheme beyond its pilot phase.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the expanded programme this month.
The programme will cover 82,656 mosques, 3,000 temples, 752 Buddhist monasteries and 301 churches, according to a decision taken at a recent meeting of the cell formed to implement the government’s election manifesto on monthly honorariums and training-based welfare for religious leaders.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration and cell president Md Ismail Zabihullah.

Under the programme, each selected mosque imam, temple priest, Buddhist monastery principal and church priest will receive a monthly honorarium of Tk 5,000. A mosque muezzin, temple serviceman, Buddhist monastery vice-principal and church assistant priest will receive Tk 3,000 each, while a mosque khadem will receive Tk 2,000 a month.

The payments will be made directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through electronic fund transfer (EFT).

In the 2026-27 fiscal year, 15 mosques will be selected from each union for the programme.