Bangladesh conference examines zakat role in poverty reduction
A gathering in Dhaka has brought NGOs, corporate representatives and state officials together to examine how zakat can be better structured to address persistent poverty
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Civil society groups, corporate actors and government officials in Bangladesh have discussed how zakat, a mandatory form of Islamic almsgiving, could be more systematically used to address poverty and social inequality in the country, amid concerns that its economic potential remains largely underutilized.
The discussion took place at a conference jointly organized by MASTUL Foundation and Al Zakat Sadaqa Foundation, bringing together representatives from non-governmental organizations, businesses, Islamic scholars and public institutions.
The focus was on whether zakat — traditionally distributed through informal or fragmented channels — could be aligned with more transparent and accountable welfare models.
Zakat is a compulsory form of charitable giving in Islam, requiring eligible Muslims to donate a fixed portion of their wealth annually to defined beneficiary groups, including the poor, indebted and displaced.
In Muslim-majority countries such as Bangladesh, economists and development practitioners have long argued that zakat could function as an alternative or complementary form of social finance if managed at scale.
Officials attending the meeting noted that while significant sums are donated each year, the absence of coordination, monitoring and institutional frameworks has limited zakat’s long-term impact on poverty reduction.
Md. Daud Mia, director general of Bangladesh’s NGO Affairs Bureau, said stronger cooperation between civil society organizations and corporate entities could help improve reach and oversight.
Academic voices at the conference also stressed the need to integrate zakat distribution with broader development strategies, including education, vocational training and livelihood support, rather than relying solely on short-term relief.
Representatives from international aid organizations, including Muslim Aid, signaled interest in coordinating seasonal food assistance and humanitarian programs with local zakat-managing groups, particularly during Ramadan and major religious observances.
Analysts say faith-based financing models like zakat are increasingly being discussed as part of wider debates on ethical finance and community-driven development in the Global South.
While no policy commitments were announced, participants described the discussions as part of a broader effort to move zakat beyond individual charity and towards structured poverty alleviation frameworks that can be assessed, regulated and scaled.
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