Bangladesh’s Catholic Church refuses state subsidies, urging funds be redirected to welfare for the poor amid national economic hardship.
Newsroom (17/03/2026 Gaudium Press )In the midst of Bangladesh’s deepening economic crisis, the Catholic Church has declined government subsidies for its clergy, calling instead for public funds to be channelled toward social welfare programmes that aid the poor and marginalised.
The decision comes after Prime Minister Tarek Rahman unveiled a new initiative this morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The government programme, framed as a move to strengthen religious harmony and social justice, offers monthly allowances to imams, muezzins, and religious leaders across major faiths.
Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, of Dhaka and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, attended the launch as guest of honour and used the occasion to clarify the Church’s position. “Priests, friars, and nuns live a consecrated life of renunciation and do not receive salaries for their ministry,” he said, explaining that Catholic teaching limits the acceptance of state aid by individuals in religious life.
“Priests do not have personal property or families of their own,” Archbishop D’Cruze stated. “Their lives belong entirely to God and to the service of the people. For this reason, I humbly express my inability to accept the allowance proposed for priests.”
Focus on Welfare over Allowances
The prelate stressed that the refusal applies only to the Catholic clergy and does not affect other Christian denominations. “If pastors of other churches wish to receive this honour, we have no objection,” he said. “Many of them support families and have different needs.”
Instead, Archbishop D’Cruze proposed that government support be directed toward welfare initiatives managed through the Ministry of Religious Affairs or the Christian Religious Welfare Trust. He suggested expanding educational assistance for poor children, broadening healthcare for low-income families, and increasing aid for widows and people with disabilities. The Church also requested help for building and maintaining churches and cemeteries, which serve Christian communities across the country.
“The faithful sustain the Church through voluntary offerings,” D’Cruze noted. “Christians express their love for God through generosity. Priests dedicate their lives fully to pastoral and spiritual work, freely serving the people.”
A Programme for Religious Harmony
The government’s new religious allowance programme, launched as the country grapples with fuel shortages and inflation tied to recent political unrest and the Gulf War’s impact on trade, marks a significant policy shift.
In its first phase, the scheme will support 4,908 mosques, 990 Hindu temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries, and 396 Christian churches across Bangladesh. Under the allowance system, imams will receive 5,000 taka (US$40) a month, while muezzins and khadems will receive 3,000 taka (US$25) and 2,000 taka (US$16.50), respectively. Religious leaders from other faiths will receive comparable stipends: temple priests and Buddhist abbots 5,000 taka, assistants 3,000 taka, and each place of worship an institutional allowance of 8,000 taka (US$65).
While no Christian clergy collected funds at today’s ceremony, officials confirmed that lists are being prepared for those interested in joining later phases. Some Protestant pastors may accept the honorarium, as many rely on inconsistent or minimal congregational income.
A Call for Inclusive Support
Despite declining the allowance, Archbishop D’Cruze congratulated Prime Minister Rahman on the programme’s inclusive intent and expressed optimism that the government would respect the Catholic Church’s position. He reiterated that public funds could have greater impact if used to uplift struggling communities regardless of faith.
“Our refusal is not rejection,” he said. “It is an invitation to solidarity — to stand with the poorest of our nation in this difficult time.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
Related Images:
