The Government of Bangladesh has introduced a monthly honorarium and festival allowance scheme for personnel working in mosques, temples, pagodas, churches, and other religious institutions across the country.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has outlined nine specific grounds under which this financial allowance can be canceled.

On Sunday (September 6), the ministry issued a gazette notification titled “Policy 2026 on Providing Honoraria and Welfare Support for Personnel Working in Mosques and Other Religious Institutions.”

The framework details eligibility criteria, disqualifications, and conditions for revocation.

Under the policy, beneficiaries must be permanent citizens of Bangladesh and employed in a religious institution selected by an upazila-level committee.

Holding an official appointment letter from the respective institution is also mandatory.

The initiative aims to strengthen the financial and social security of religious personnel who play vital roles in socio-economic development, ethical education, moral values, and communal harmony.

The program covers imams, muezzins, and khadims of mosques, alongside equivalent functionaries in other religious establishments, and includes festival bonuses.

According to the policy, an individual's honorarium will be canceled under the following nine circumstances:

1. Moral Turpitude or Criminal Conviction: Conviction for a criminal offense or an act involving moral turpitude.
2. Termination or Resignation: Dismissal from employment or voluntary resignation from the religious institution.
3. Fraudulent Information: Proven forgery or falsification of information provided to secure the honorarium.
4. Anti-State Activities: Involvement in activities directed against the state.
5. Death of the Recipient: Demise of the beneficiary.
6. Absence of Employment: Selection as a beneficiary despite no longer working at the religious institution.
7. Alternative Remuneration: Receipt of salary or allowances from any other government, autonomous, state-owned, trust, foreign organization, or development project.
8. Anti-Social or Criminal Behavior: Proven engagement in anti-social or other criminal acts.
9. Political Membership: Membership in any political party.

Allocation Breakdown

Mosque: Imams will receive a monthly honorarium of 5,000 BDT, muezzins 3,000 BDT, and khadims 2,000 BDT, totaling 10,000 BDT per mosque.

Temple: Head priests will receive 5,000 BDT and sevayats 3,000 BDT, totaling 8,000 BDT monthly.

Pagoda: Head religious figures/abbots will receive 5,000 BDT and deputy abbots 3,000 BDT, totaling 8,000 BDT monthly.

Church: Main pastors/clergy will receive 5,000 BDT and assistant pastors 3,000 BDT, totaling 8,000 BDT monthly.

Festival Allowance: Mosque personnel will receive a bonus of 1,000 BDT for each Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Personnel in temples, pagodas, and churches will receive a lump-sum festival allowance of 2,000 BDT for Durga Puja, Buddha Purnima, and Christmas, respectively.

In addition to stipends and welfare support, the policy provides for skills-development training to help recipients enhance professional capacities and generate alternative income streams.

The notification notes that the policy was formulated in pursuance of commitments made in the government's 2026 election manifesto.