Sangsad Bhaban, June 25 -- The government does not have any precise statistics on the number of imams and muezzins currently serving across the country, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) told Parliament on Thursday.

However, citing a 2020 estimate, the minister said Bangladesh had 331,125 mosques, suggesting that the combined number of imams and muezzins could be around 662,250.

The minister disclosed the information while replying to a question from Gaibandha-1 MP Md Majedur Rahman during the question-answer session in the House presided over by Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed.

Responding to the same question, the minister said the government has been providing monthly honoraria to imams, muezzins and khadems ...