Dhaka, Oct. 7 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has handed over cheques totalling Tk 80 million to representatives of the Hindu and Buddhist communities for the Durga Puja and Kathin Chibar Dan ceremonies.

His Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin said the cheques were handed over on Wednesday following an exchange of views with representatives of the two communities at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the Secretariat.

Of the amount, Tk 50 million was allocated to the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust for Durga Puja and Tk 30 million to the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust for Kathin Chibar Dan, the ceremony of offering robes to Buddhist monks.

The Hindu Religious Welfare Trust had sought Tk 40 million for Durga Puja, while the Buddhi...