Speakers at the inaugural function of the 6th 'Zakat Fair-2018' on Friday called for raising awareness among wealthy people about the significance of zakat as it can play an important role in alleviating poverty.
They also called for distributing zakat among the needy through institutions so that it can make better impact on their lives.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the two-day fair organised by Centre for Zakat Management (CZM) on the premises of Gulshan Shooting Club in the city.
Presided over by Lt. Gen (Rtd) M Nuruddin Khan, the inaugural ceremony was also attended by former minister Abul Hasan Chowdhury, former director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, Consultative Forum of Islami Bank (CFIB) vice-chairman AKM Nurul Fazal Bulbul, noted nuclear scientist Professor Dr M Shamsher Ali, Rahimafrooz Bangladesh group director Niaz Rahim and member secretary of the fair organising committee AMM Nasir Uddin.
Referring to the successes of different social safety net programmes of the government, the planning minister said fund allocation to the safety net programmes has become a challenge for the government and it can be solved through making zakat an alternative source of funding.
Urging affluent people in the country to give zakat, he said zakat is not any tax or donation; it's an obligatory 'ibadat' (worship), so everyone having capacity must give zakat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Citing Hadith, he said the poor have a right to the assets of the rich; so, people who lag behind financially must be brought under the benefits of zakat.
Besides, appreciating the initiative of CZM for distributing zakat money institutionally, the minister suggested that the platform take their effort to the grassroots level.
He also emphasised raising social awareness as a large number people in the country have entered the middle class with the economic development of the country, and they are eligible to distribute zakat.
Speaking at the event, CFIB vice-chairman Mr Bulbul said if the government declares zakat money free of tax, the amount of such fund will increase significantly.
He also said social campaign for giving zakat under an institutional platform can benefit real poor community.
Scientist Shamsher Ali said there are many rich people who do not distribute zakat money according to the directives of the Quran and Hadith, which is unfortunate.
They should not disobey the order of the almighty and his Prophet by depriving the right of the poor, he added.
CZM has been organising Zakat Fair for the past couple of years aiming to build awareness among the zakat payers and to help make the proper calculation of the zakat amount.
Several banks, non-government organisations (NGOs) related to zakat and Islamic book publications have taken part in the fair with 20 stalls to promote their services.
Four seminars on various issues relating to Zakat will also take place at the fair venue while a special question-answer session about zakat will be held only for women.
The Financial Express is one of the media partners of the event. The fair will remain open from 9.00am to 6.30pm.
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