State Minister for Religious Affairs M Shahjahan Miah on Monday urged the affluent section of society to give Zakat to the poor in order to alleviate poverty.
“Almighty Allah has made Zakat mandatory for the rich as a tool for poverty alleviation from society, and we need to collect and manage Zakat in a planned manner,” he told a seminar.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Centre for Zakat Management (CZM) jointly organised the seminar, ‘Building a Caring Society through Zakat’, at the DCCI office.
Speaking as the chief guest, Shahjahan Miah said the government is planning to collect Zakat centrally. “My ministry is working sincerely to create awareness among people about Zakat and its impact on the economy,” he said.
DCCI president M Sabur Khan, in his address of welcome, said that it is very important to ensure proper utilisation of Zakat fund for poverty alleviation, economic development and improving the living standard of people.
He stressed strengthening Zakat management activities and institutions. “The government should consider Zakat as a new strategy to eradicate poverty besides the existing programmes,” he added.
CEO of Centre for Zakat Management Dr Mohammad Ayub Miah and Professor of Department of Economics and Finance, University of New Orleans, USA, Dr M Kabir Hassan presented the keynote papers at the seminar.
DCCI senior vice president Nessar Maksud Khan, its vice president Absar Karim Chowdhury, directors Khairul Majid Mahmud, Haider Ahmed Khan, Abul Hossain, Hossain A Sikder, M Abu Hurairah and Shoaib Choudhury were present at the seminar.
Source: UNBConnect
