Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain on Wednesday said that that imams in Rohingya camps are coming under training.
He also added that the country's Alem (Islamic scholar) community should take the initiative in driving social reform.
"Maintaining communal harmony is the priority of the interim government...Only the Alem community can provide the right direction to society on combating terrorism and resolving social problems," he said.
He made this remark as the chief while addressing a cheque-distribution ceremony of a financial grant and interest-free loan under the Imam Muazzin Welfare Trust.
Islamic Foundation organised the event at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque auditorium, said a press release.
The adviser said the Imam Muazzin Welfare Trust is a time-befitting and people-friendly trust and the capacity of this trust will be further enhanced in the coming days.
"For the welfare of the Imam and Muazzins, we are working to develop a mosque management policy and planning to form a pay scale for them," he added.
Officials concerned said that under the Imam Muazzin Welfare Trust, interest-free loans of Tk1.80 crore are being provided to 600 helpless Imams and Muazzins in the fiscal year 2024-2025, while grants of Tk2.31 crore are being given to 4,620 people, and each of the recipients is getting Tk5,000.
At the function, 295 people of Dhaka district were given a grant of Tk14.75 lakh, and each person received Tk5,000.
In addition, interest-free loans amounting to Tk1.4 lakh were provided to 7 entrepreneurs in Dhaka district and each person gets Tk 20,000, while Tk2.10 lakh to seven general entrepreneurs, each receives Tk30,000 and Tk2.8 lakh to 7 special entrepreneurs of which each gets Tk40,000.
With Islamic Foundation Director General Abdus Salam Khan in the chair, the Islamic Foundation's directors, project directors, officials, employees and scholars, among others, were present.
The main objective of the Imam Muazzin Welfare Trust is to make the imams and muazzins self-reliant through socio-economic development.
This trust was formed in 2001 with the aim of providing financial assistance and loans to any imam or muazzin who becomes incapacitated due to serious accidents, disabilities, and incurable diseases.
Providing financial assistance for the education of their talented children and ensuring the overall welfare of their families is also its objective.
Currently, 84,000 imams and muazzins are members of the trust.
