B Mirror Report:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the authorities concerned to find ways to make the country’s Zakat management system more effective and well organized.

The premier issued the directive at a meeting on Zakat management held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, his Deputy Press Secretary Md Zahidul Islam Rony confirmed.

Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Munshi Alauddin Al Azad and Shaykh Ahmadullah attended the meeting.

Rony said the Prime Minister had earlier mentioned the importance of a proper Zakat management system during an iftar programme held on March 7 in honour of Islamic scholars and orphans. At the event, the premier said that an organized Zakat system could play a significant role in eliminating poverty in the country within the next 10 to 15 years.

“Today’s meeting was held in line with that statement,” he added.

According to the Deputy Press Secretary, the meeting discussed how an effective Zakat management system could contribute to poverty alleviation across the country.

The meeting also decided to reconstitute the Zakat Board, he said.

It recommended forming a committee headed by Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain with Allama Mufti Abdul Malek, Shaykh Ahmadullah and several leading Islamic economists and prominent Islamic scholars as members.

Rony said the Ministry of Religious Affairs will propose the names for the full committee within the next ten days.

The committee will soon submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister regarding Zakat management and the reconstitution of the Zakat Board, he added.