Budget Proposes Monthly Allowance of Tk 10,000 for Imams, Muezzins and Mosque Caretakers
Published : 16:17, 11 June 2026
THE BUSINESS DAILY REPORT
The proposed national budget for FY2026-27 includes a plan to provide a monthly allowance of Tk 10,000 to mosque imams, muezzins, and caretakers across the country, according to budget-related sources.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is set to present the proposal in Parliament on Thursday as part of the country's largest-ever national budget, estimated at Tk 938,000 crore.
The budget is the first to be presented by the BNP-led government following its victory in the February national election. Officials said the budget has been prepared under the theme: “Economic Democratization and Decentralization: Bangladesh on the Path to a Trillion-Dollar Economy.”
According to officials from the Finance Ministry, the budget places greater emphasis on human resource development alongside economic growth. Education and healthcare sectors are expected to receive the highest allocations, while employment generation, social protection, entrepreneurship development, and economic stability remain key priorities.
The proposal is also expected to include a Tk 225 crore Entrepreneurship Development Fund and a Tk 2,000 crore financing facility for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Partial implementation of a new government pay structure may also be announced.
In the healthcare sector, the government plans to introduce an e-Health Card program covering 2.5 million citizens. Several new social safety net initiatives, including Family Cards and Farmer Cards, are also expected to be incorporated into the budget framework.
Additionally, the government has set a target of creating overseas employment opportunities for up to 10 million people through expanded labor market initiatives abroad.
Analysts say the proposed allowance for mosque-based religious workers could represent a significant expansion of the country's social welfare network while providing financial support to an often-overlooked segment of society.
