Zakat distribution in a planned and organised manner can make a significant contribution in reducing poverty, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today.

“Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. I would like to share with you a plan regarding zakat management in the country. According to Islamic teachings, many wealthy people in our society pay zakat on their own initiative. Some also pay their zakat through the government’s Zakat Board.

“If zakat is distributed in a targeted and well-planned way, it could play an effective role in alleviating poverty in the country within 10 to 15 years through zakat management alone,” Tarique said at an iftar mahfil hosted for ulema, Islamic scholars, and orphans at the State Guest House Jamuna.

“In this context, the government has taken steps to make zakat management more effective and target-oriented,” he said.

The prime minister mentioned that various research reports suggest that the amount of zakat collected in Bangladesh exceeds Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000 crore every year and some estimates put the figure even higher.

However, he said the absence of a planned and organised distribution system means that although wealthy individuals fulfil their zakat obligation, questions remain about how effectively the funds help reduce poverty.

“As far as I know, Islamic teachings encourage zakat to be distributed in such a way that a recipient may not need to receive zakat again the following year after receiving it once,” he observed.

Tarique said there are currently around four crore families in the country, both rich and poor.

If poor and extremely poor families are identified and five lakh families are given Tk 1 lakh each in zakat every year in phases, most of those families may not need to receive zakat again the following year, Tarique Rahman said.

The premier said if the idea of zakat management for poverty alleviation is considered logical, ulema and religious scholars can play the biggest role in raising awareness among wealthy people.

He also said the existing Zakat Board under the Ministry of Religious Affairs can be reorganised with leading Islamic scholars, religious experts, and government officials to work more effectively for poverty alleviation through zakat management.

“By using zakat for poverty alleviation, there is an opportunity to present Bangladesh as a model in the Islamic world,” Tarique said.