Bangladesh Launches Religious Leaders Honorarium Program

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh inaugurated a government pilot program to provide monthly honorariums to religious leaders of all faiths. The program, launched at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, covers 16,992 religious leaders from 4,908 mosques, 990 temples, and 144 Buddhist monasteries in its first phase. The initiative aims to foster communal harmony, ensure financial self-reliance for citizens, and integrate religious leaders into broader economic and social activities. Tarique Rahman emphasized the government's commitment to building a peaceful and secure Bangladesh and announced the inclusion of religious leaders in law and order committees at district and upazila levels. The program also includes festival allowances and will be expanded to include more beneficiaries in phases, with funds transferred directly to bank accounts via Sonali Bank to prevent corruption. This initiative is part of the ruling Bangladesh===Bangladesh Nationalist Party's efforts to implement its election promises.