B Mirror Report: The government is set to roll out a programme to provide monthly honorariums and festival allowances to religious leaders, beginning with khatibs, imams and muezzins ahead of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, in line with the election commitment of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The decision was finalized at a meeting focused on promoting religious and social harmony at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. The session was presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and attended by relevant ministers, state ministers and senior officials.
Speaking to reporters outside the PMO, the Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin shared details of the premier’s first working day at the office. He noted that Tarique Rahman arrived at the PMO like a regular citizen and waited at traffic signals along the way.
Before entering the main building, the Prime Minister planted a Swarna Chapa sapling and later exchanged greetings with officers and staff. According to the adviser, many of the officials had previously served under former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and Tarique Rahman addressed several of them by name.
The premier subsequently held separate discussions with ministers and secretaries regarding the implementation of election pledges. The first meeting centered on fulfilling the promise to introduce monthly honorariums and festival allowances for mosque leaders as well as clerics of other faiths.
Under the Prime Minister’s instructions, it was agreed that preparations would be undertaken to launch the programme in phases before Eid. Mahdi Amin indicated that in certain areas, disbursement of the allowances would begin prior to Eid-ul-Fitr.
Responding to a query about the amount to be allocated, the adviser said a committee has been formed to determine the financial structure. A technical team, in coordination with inter-ministerial consultations, will decide the beneficiaries and the disbursement mechanism. Detailed information will be announced later by committee members.
At the briefing, Mahdi Amin also mentioned a separate meeting on establishing a vibrant, career-focused education system, generating employment opportunities and expanding sports infrastructure and training facilities.
He said discussions highlighted the BNP’s major pledge to ensure merit-based and discrimination-free employment nationwide. Planned reforms in the education sector aim to enhance skills for government and private sector jobs, encourage entrepreneurship and boost manpower export.
The adviser further stated that talks were held on easing regulations in business, trade and industrial policies, prioritizing technical and vocational education, and strengthening coordination with Bangladeshi missions abroad and foreign embassies in Bangladesh to upgrade the skills of overseas workers.
He expressed optimism that the implementation of the party’s election commitments would commence shortly.
Press Secretary Saleh Shibli told journalists that it was Tarique Rahman’s third working day as Prime Minister. Despite Saturday being a weekly holiday, the premier remained engaged in official duties, reviewing strategies with relevant officials to execute the party’s manifesto and improve citizens’ living standards.
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam and Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon were also present at the briefing.
