A total of 262 distressed and helpless people were given zakat money worth Taka 16.38 lakh aimed at bringing some happiness to their family life through mitigating the financial crisis.
Rajshahi Divisional Office of the Islamic Foundation (IF) distributed the money on behalf of the government Zakat Fund of 2022-2023 fiscal year at the office conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) here on Sunday.
Each of them was given Taka 6,250. Of the beneficiaries, 100 were from Rajshahi city areas, while 162 others from nine upazilas of the district.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Zafarullah attended the distribution ceremony as the chief guest, while DC Shamim Ahmed was in the chair.
Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Religious Affairs Shakhawat Hossain, Additional DC Kallyan Chowdhury, IF Director Dr Abdus Salam, Divisional Director Rezzaqul Haider and Assistant Director Muzahidul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, GSM Zafarullah attributed that zakat can help reduce income disparity with economic growth as a poverty reduction tool.
Zakat is also considered one of the unique instruments for poverty alleviation as wealth is transferred from well-off people to worse-off people. Zakat can be administered by both government and volunteer organisations.
He also mentioned that adjustment between income tax and zakat can ensure greater collection. Tax rebates for zakat payers should be there to increase the volume of collection.
Zakat can reduce pressure on the government's spending on social safety net and foreign borrowing, the IF Director Jalal Ahmed observes, suggesting advocacy support of the nation's economists to this effect.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha