Kader Gani Chowdhury, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), emphasized the role of Zakat in addressing economic disparity and promoting equality in society.
Speaking at the Zakat Conference 2025, organized by the Mastul Foundation at the Surma Hall of Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, Chowdhury highlighted the transformative potential of the charitable practice.
He said, “One of the most important things about Zakat is to maintain economic balance. Islam does not allow someone in the society to build mountains of wealth, live in high-rise buildings, live a luxurious life, go to bars and have fun, while someone else spends their days hungry, half-starved, scavenges for food in dustbins, looks for paper on the streets, or sells kidneys or children to support their family. Islam has made Zakat obligatory on the rich to maintain economic balance among all classes of citizens.”
Kader Gani Chowdhury said, “People generally have a lust for money. Those who are stingy in nature do not want to give their hard-earned money to anyone selflessly. Therefore, the merciful Allah Almighty has ordered the minds of wealthy people to be free and pure from the vices of lust for wealth, greed, stinginess, selfishness, etc. He has made Zakat obligatory on people to make their hearts filled with human qualities such as kindness, affection, compassion and love.”
BFUJ Secretary General also said, “We must remember that the real owner of wealth is Allah. It is a trust for people. People will earn wealth through labor and talent and will spend it according to their needs. But Islam does not allow hoarding wealth or spending it only for their own enjoyment. Because the poor have a right to the wealth of the rich, and it must be realized. If the rights of the poor are realized, the owner will be free from liability, the wealth will be pure; otherwise, the wealth will not be halal. Capitalism is not supported in Islamic economics.”
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
