Deaths in Mymensingh Zakat stampede

The death of 27 women and children in Mymensingh town in a stampede early Friday morning in their bid to collecting Zakat clothes from the house of a rich 'zarda' (chewing tobacco) factory owner serves as a reminder to all concerned of the time when such tragic incidents used to take place recurrently. More importantly, many would tend to note that the Mymensingh tragedy is an unsavoury one, particularly at a time when all 'tall talks' about the country's achievements about becoming a low-middle income country (LMIC) are being touted. The reality remains that poverty is still forcing people of this country to risk their lives, even for a paltry alms or a low-priced clothe. The tall talkers about the achievement of the status of a low-middle income country (LMIC) would find it hard to dismiss this observation forthwith when the loss of so many lives for Zakat clothes highlights the desperation among the poorer section of people in society.

But what would cause pain to most people is the imprudent and somewhat vulgar demonstration of 'affluence' by a section of people through the distribution of Zakat, one of the five pillars of the religion of Islam. Zakat is a mandatory process for Muslims for their physical and spiritual purification through parting a part of their annual income earnings or wealth accumulation by way of donation to the poor and needy. However, Islam enjoins upon its followers to be discreet about their charity work. But some people prefer to ignore this and try to present themselves as very generous individuals. In doing so, they cause more harm than good to the people around. The Mymensingh Zakat tragedy is one such incident. In fact, the possible ways of distributing Zakat, either in cash or kind, have been adequately explained in the relevant religious edict. If one follows the same faithfully, the distribution of Zakat would never give rise to any trouble. Rather, none would even know about such distribution.

Usually, the pre-announced distribution of Zakat or any other donation leads to a large gathering of poor people. In most cases, the amount or quantity of goods to be donated is found to be not sufficient for distribution among all the people who assemble at any earlier-announced place. That is why the poor people, in the absence of any measure to restore discipline, rush at great speed to grab a piece of donation, being oblivious of the dangers associated with it. There is legal provision to take permission from the local police stations, prior to organising any event that would create public gathering. Unfortunately, these days, organisers of such events do not bother about taking such permissions and the police also overlook such happenings. What has happened in Mymensingh would not have taken place, had the police personnel been present there.

The death of so many people in a stampede in their bid to grab a piece of lungi or saree should prompt the country's policymakers and relevant others to do some soul-searching; they need to ask a lot of questions to themselves about development, economic growth, rise in per capita income, etc. The country's international image would get yet another dent following the latest tragic incident at Mymensingh town. The underlying causes of such tragedies recurring at different places on different occasions, however, cannot be removed overnight through administrative measures. Prior disciplinary measures can help prevent such a tragedy from taking place. But preventing people from queuing up for alms or Zakat materials would require something called economic transformation and distributive justice in place.