Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) -File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 7, 2026 (BSS) - Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) today said the government remains committed to ensuring equal rights for people belonging to all religions in Bangladesh.

“Regardless of their religion, the people of Bangladesh must enjoy equal rights, and the present government is committed to ensuring this,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while responding to a supplementary question from ruling party lawmaker Subarna Sikder of reserved women’s seat-20 in the Jatiya Sangsad.

In her question, Sikder said the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust conducts welfare activities in different districts and areas of the country through its Board of Trustees. However, she said the trust cannot effectively carry out such activities across the country with its limited funds.

She asked whether the government has any plan to allocate funds to the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.

In reply, the religious affairs minister assured the House that the government would take appropriate measures in the future to further strengthen the activities of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.

He said the trust has around Tk 100 crore in fixed deposits, and income generated from those deposits goes to various temples across the country.

The minister said the government also allocates funds every year through the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the renovation of temples and development of cremation grounds, in addition to the trust’s own funds.

“Please wait; better arrangements will be made in the days ahead,” he said.

The minister further said the government follows a policy of ensuring equal rights and attaching equal importance to all religious communities in implementing religious welfare activities.

He said government support would continue for the development, renovation and welfare activities of religious institutions across the country.