MPs get billions for developing religious establishments

The government has allotted Tk 6.65 billion for developing religious establishments across the country.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 Sept 2017, 12:02 PM
Updated : 13 Sept 2017, 12:02 PM

The funds from the project for improving social infrastructure will be supervised by local MPs.

The MPs will  have the liberty to choose infrastructure to develop such as mosques, temples, churches, pagoda, gurdwara, Eidgah, graveyards, cremation sites and playgrounds.      

The plan was among ten projects approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council or ECNEC on Wednesday. About Tk 51.81 billion has been allotted for these projects.

The project to develop general social infrastructure will be implemented through the Local Government Engineering Department or LGED, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said at a media briefing after the ECNEC meeting.

"The MPs will not have direct access to the funds but the work will be done according to their preferences," he said.

The project allocates Tk 10 million for each Upazila, that is Tk 4.91 billion for a total of 491 Upazilas, excluding areas under city corporations, the minister said.

Another Tk 1.09 billion will be made available as block allotment for related spending under the project. This fund will be spent based on need and urgency.

Each religious establishment will have a minimum of Tk 500,000 to spend on development. The project's deadline is June 2020.