‘Zakat loses much of significance when collected individually’
Staff Reporter :
Zakat is not charity but the rightful claim of the poor, warning that those who can afford it yet fail to pay lack true faith said Religious Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain.
Highlighting widespread neglect among the wealthy, he urged that this issue be addressed and public awareness strengthened. He made the remarks while inaugurating the 14th Zakat Fair 2026 at the Officers Club on Bailey Road in the capital on Saturday. The event was organised by the Centre for Zakat Management (CZM).
The fair carried the theme “Zakat for Establishing Justice” and aimed to promote a society grounded in fairness, equality, and freedom from poverty and discrimination. Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Khalid Hossain also noted that the Centre for Zakat Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Khalid Hossain also noted that the Centre for Zakat Management has played a crucial role in promoting institutional Zakat management in Bangladesh.
He noted that more than a thousand years ago Zakat was collected by the state, but over time—particularly during the Mughal and British eras it shifted to an individual practice, significantly weakening its social effectiveness.
Describing the matter as deeply troubling, the adviser said it was unfortunate that some people in the country are compelled to take up degrading occupations to survive, adding that proper collection and distribution of Zakat could prevent such circumstances.
Former caretaker government adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman addressed the event, describing a global philosophical crisis marked by unclear goals, uncertain paths, and weak instruments, noting that even the United Nations faces these challenges.
Dr Zillur Rahman said CZM’s initiative holds global significance, emphasizing that Zakat is both a financial duty and a moral responsibility. “Paying Zakat is not enough; it is equally crucial to monitor and ensure the funds are used responsibly,” he added, stressing accountability from collection to distribution.
In his welcome speech, CZM Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohammad Ayub Mia said the organisation has been organising Zakat Fairs for over a decade with the aim of promoting proper and effective Zakat practices.
“Zakat is vital for building a just society. Many people either do not give it or fail to calculate it correctly, though business Zakat has seen a recent rise,” he noted.
He added that institutional Zakat is far more impactful than individual contributions in tackling poverty and inequality.
“Of Bangladesh’s nearly 180 million people, about 40 million live in poverty, highlighting significant income disparity. Proper collection and distribution of Zakat can play a key role in narrowing this gap,” he said.