Desk Report:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that if Zakat is distributed through a targeted and specific plan, it is possible to play an effective role in poverty alleviation in the country within the next 10 to 15 years only through Zakat management.
He said that there are currently about 40 million families, both rich and poor, in the country. If zakat of 1 lakh taka is given to 5 lakh families every year, many families will not need to take zakat next year.
The Prime Minister said these things in a brief speech before Iftar at an Iftar mahfil organized in honor of orphaned children and Ulema-Mashaykhs at the State Guest House Jamuna on Saturday (March 7, 2026).
The Prime Minister said that according to the provisions of Islam, many wealthy people in the society give zakat on their own initiative. Some also give zakat through the government’s Zakat Board. Various research reports have shown that the amount of zakat in Bangladesh is more than 20 to 25 thousand crore taka every year. Some have mentioned that the amount is even higher.
However, he said, due to the lack of a well-planned and well-organized distribution of zakat, even if the zakat of the wealthy is collected, there is a big question mark over how effective that money is in poverty alleviation.
Religious Affairs Minister Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, State Minister for LGRD Mir Shah Alam, Whip of the National Parliament Mian Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Chairman of As-Sunnah Foundation Shaikh Ahmadullah, and Khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram Mufti Abdul Malek, along with various scholars and orphans, participated in the Iftar Mahfil.
Besides, Prime Minister’s Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. AKM Shamsul Islam, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli and Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon were present at the function.
