Dhaka, Feb. 21 -- Many Khatibs, Imams and Muezzins across Bangladesh will begin receiving government allowances even before Eid-ul-Fitr, Prime Minister's Advisor Mahdi Amin has said.

He made the remarks on Saturday after a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon.

Mahdi said several election pledges were discussed at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, including a commitment to provide monthly stipends and festival allowances to religious leaders.

"Our election manifesto included several promises. In [Saturday's] meeting, the honourable prime minister mainly discussed one of those pledges -- to provide monthly honorariums and festival allowances to respected Khatibs, Imams, Muezzins of different mosqu...