At a meeting of imams and khatibs held at the Jamia Madania Baridhara auditorium on Wednesday evening, organized by Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Dhaka Metropolitan, following Iftar, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin stated on Monday that the prices of daily necessities are currently on a downward trend after being stable and are predicted to continue to decline. He stated that a significant contributing factor to the July uprising was wealth inequality, and that “we must address inequality through our actions and policymaking. The roles of Qardh al-hasan (interest-free lending) and Zakat are crucial in eliminating this wealth disparity,” he added.

He clarified that the Islamic model of zakat is a successful way to distribute wealth. It is not a kind of charity; it is the individual’s responsibility. People can be encouraged to pay Zakat by imams and khatibs, which will ensure a fair distribution of wealth and lessen poverty. The fact that Zakat deters hoarding was also emphasized by Sheikh Bashir Uddin.
With Tk 45 billion in government subsidies, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) carries out operations valued at Tk 120 billion a year.
All areas of the economy, social policy, and politics have historically been beset by severe corruption, he said, emphasizing that TCB’s efforts to assist marginalized groups have seen particularly high levels of corruption.

“I call to leaders of all religions, not only Islam, to help in appropriately selecting the one crore marginalized households of TCB,” he said, requesting the participation of religious leaders in TCB’s operations. I want to bring about justice in society with your help.
The government is taking action to protect rawhide and guarantee fair prices, the commerce adviser added.
“In order to preserve the skin of sacrifice animals, the government will supply salt to madrasas and orphans this time. On the day of sacrifice, it will be your duty to clean and preserve the skin with salt instead of selling it right away.

“If you sell it after seven days, you will get a fair price,” he added.
He referred to leather as a national asset and a major source of income for madrasas and orphanages.
He said that the ministries of industries and commerce are taking necessary steps to develop the leather industry.

Regarding leather supply, he pointed out that when leather from districts outside Dhaka enters the capital after Qurbani, the supply increases, causing prices to drop. He assured that measures will be taken to prevent this from happening this time.
Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka Metropolitan President Muhammad Junaid Al Habib, Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka Metropolitan General Secretary Muhammad Mamunul Haque, leaders of various levels of Hefazat-e-Islami, and khatibs and imams from numerous mosques attended the event.