Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is reportedly considering an increase in government funding for major religious festivals this year, including a higher grant for Durga Puja and additional support for the Buddhist community’s Kathin Chibor Dan festival. The proposals, confirmed by Bijon Kanti Sarker, the prime minister’s special assistant for Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and ethnic affairs, indicate a potential rise in allocations beyond the amounts initially requested by relevant organizations.

The Hindu Religious Welfare Trust had sought a government grant of Tk 4 crore for the Sharadiya Durga Puja festivities. However, the prime minister is evaluating the possibility of raising the allocation to Tk 5 crore, which would mark a Tk 1 crore increase over the Trust’s original request. The Durga Puja, an important annual religious celebration for the Hindu community, traditionally receives state funding to support its observance.

Similarly, the government is also considering increasing its allocation for the Kathin Chibor Dan festival, a key Buddhist event. The Buddhist community had requested Tk 2 crore, but the proposed revised amount is Tk 3 crore, reflecting an upward adjustment to support the festival’s activities.

These adjustments come amid ongoing government efforts to engage with and support minority religious and ethnic communities. While the final decisions on the grant amounts and any associated holiday declarations are still under review, the potential increases signal a willingness to expand state support for religious festivals celebrated by Bangladesh’s diverse populations.