Photo: BSS

NATORE, June 2, 2026 (BSS) - Whip of the Bangladesh National Parliament 
Advocate M. Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu said the government is actively 
working to consolidate the financial and social status of Imams.

To achieve this goal, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has introduced a 
government scheme to provide monthly honorariums and festival allowances for 
Imams, Muazzins, Khadems and otherl religious leaders of all faiths, he 
added.

The Whip made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a 
daylong conference for trained Imams at the district level, held at the 
conference room of the District Model Mosque.

Religious leaders faced various forms of oppression over the past 17 years by 
anti-Islamic forces, which have now been dismantled, Dulu said.
 
He urged religious leaders to shun division, remain united, and stay vigilant 
so that no anti-Islamic forces can ever rise again in the country.

He further mentioned that the government is currently providing monthly 
honorariums to 178 religious leaders across various mosques in the district, 
adding that the coverage of this honorarium will be expanded to 100 percent 
in the future to further enhance their social dignity.

Presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner Md. Abul Hayat, the function 
was addressed by Superintendent of Police Md. Shariful Haque as special 
guest. 

Deputy Director of Islamic Foundation Natore District Office Md. Riazul Islam 
delivered the welcome address on the occasion.

The Deputy Director of the Islamic Foundation informed the conference that 50 
Imams from Natore district received a one-and-a-half-month residential 
training during the current fiscal year at the Imam Training Academy in 
Rajshahi. 

The training focused on agricultural work, cattle rearing, social forestry, 
and fish farming, playing a crucial role in enhancing the financial capacity 
of the Imams.