Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday directed officials concerned to explore ways to make the country’s zakat management system more effective and well organised.

He gave the instruction at a meeting on zakat management held at the Cabinet Division in Secretariat, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

The meeting was attended by Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad, Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad and As-Sunnah Foundation Chairman and eminent Islamic thinker Sheikh Ahmadullah,

During the meeting, a decision was taken to reorganise the Zakat Board.

“It was also proposed to form a committee led by the Religious Affairs Minister to review the issue and place recommendations before the Prime Minister,” Rony said.

The proposed committee may include the khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Abdul Malek, Sheikh Ahmadullah and several leading Islamic economists and noted scholars.

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

The committee will then submit recommendations to the Prime Minister on improving zakat management and restructuring the Zakat Board.

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Earlier on Saturday, at an iftar programme held in honour of alem-ulema Islamic scholars and orphans, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said a proper zakat management system could play an important role in reducing poverty in the country within the next 10 to 15 years.

The meeting also discussed how an effective zakat management system could help reduce poverty in Bangladesh.