Planning Minister MA Mannan on Saturday said that the poverty rate in the country has now come down significantly over the last 10 years and providing Zakat can be an important tool towards alleviating poverty, reports BSS. “Providing Zakat can be a huge important tool towards further alleviating poverty in the country,” said the minister.
The Planning minister was addressing a seminar titled ‘Role of zakat and tax in reducing economic inequalities’ marking the 7th Zakat Fair held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium in the city. Chaired by former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Mirza Azizul Islam, Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Muhammad Abdur Rouf spoke as guest of honour while former NBR Chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid made the key-note presentation.
Secretary General of EXIM Bank Foundation AKM Nurul Fazal Bulbul, Dhaka University Prof Mahmood Osman Imam, Bangladesh Bank General Manager Mohammad Abdul Awwal Sarker spoke as panel discussants while Niaz Rahim, Chairman of the Fair Organizer Center for Zakat Management (CZM), gave the welcome address.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, the Planning minister said that the main goal of the Awami League government is to ensure inclusiveness where every citizen of the country would get justice and equal rights, even the marginal people would not feel that they are deprived. “We want to establish justice everywhere, but at the same time we have to acknowledge that there are many barriers in the society … now we’ve got that opportunity to award a better life to our people through alleviating poverty and thus establish an equal and just society,” he added.
Mentioning that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always wants to ensure development through prioritizing the necessity, Mannan said the government has put utmost priority to alleviate poverty. He said whenever the government undertakes any project, it looks for alleviating poverty, creating wealth and employments.
