PM donates 10% of salary to state treasury: Health minister

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been contributing 10 per cent of his monthly salary to the state treasury, following the example set by his father, BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said.

He revealed the information during speaking at a programme organised by the Bangladesh Midwifery Society in the capital on Monday (July 6).

The health minister said the prime minister recently encouraged members of the cabinet to voluntarily return a portion of their salaries to the government for public welfare and national needs.

According to the minister, the prime minister told cabinet colleagues that although the decision was entirely voluntary, he believed it was appropriate to share the practice with them.

Quoting Tarique Rahman, Sakhawat Husain said the prime minister informed ministers that his father, former president Ziaur Rahman, used to donate 10 percent of his monthly salary to the state treasury to support the poor and meet government needs.

The prime minister also said he has continued the same tradition by depositing Tk 11,500, equivalent to 10 per cent of his basic monthly salary of Tk 115,000, into the government's account every month.

"He told us that after receiving his salary, he withdraws the amount and deposits it into the government account through a cheque. He requested ministers to do the same if they were willing and able," the health minister said.

Sakhawat Husain said cabinet members welcomed the initiative and responded positively to the prime minister's appeal.

"We all appreciated the proposal and were pleased that he shared it with us," the minister added.