United News of Bangladesh

The government will launch a welfare programme providing honorariums and training for imams, muazzins, khadems and other staff working at mosques and different places of worship from March 14. Md Ismail Zabihullah, adviser to the Prime Minister and President of the cell formed to implement the programme, announced this at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Sunday. Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain was also present at the briefing. Under the initiative, a monthly allocation of Tk 10,000 will be provided for mosques. Of this amount, 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 Tk 8,000. In temples, priests will receive Tk 5,000 and caretakers Tk 3,000. In Buddhist monasteries, the principal will receive Tk 5,000 and the deputy principal Tk 3,000. In churches, priests will receive Tk 5,000 while assistant priests will get Tk 3,000.