Role of the rich in poverty alleviation

Measures and actions taken by the government for alleviation of poverty will not be effective and fruitful unless wanton lapses done and serious irregularities practiced by among others, the country's, unscrupulous traders and contractors. There are numerous instances clearly indicating such lapsee and irregularities that deprive our poor country of a substantial amount of revenue and foreign exchange which could be easily utilised for poverty alleviation. Here I would like to cite just a few instances.

There are millions of people in this poor country who are unemployed and underemployed and as a result they are all in the grip of poverty. According to a newspaper report Volcan Energy International of the United States has expressed its willingness to invest a huge amount of 1600 million dollar in the country's power and fertilizer sectors. And our Board of Investment has already signed an agreement in this connection. Investment of such a big amount of money will certainly enable a section of our unemployed and underemployed people to free themselves from the curse of poverty.

It is our earnest hope and desire this investment of the world renowned microsoft organisation in Bangladesh succeeds. Let us not disappoint them the way Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been disappointed recently by a section of our unscrupulous contractors and withdraw substantial amount of 320 million dollars which they wanted to invest in Bangladesh for rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Comilla and why the ADB was obliged to withdraw this amount? Because allegedly the local contractors of Comilla did not allow any contractor from outside Comilla to compete in the tender.

Numerous such instances impede efforts made by government and non-government organisations from time to time vis-a-vis alleviation of poverty. If the government takes timely and strict measures to curb the nefarious activities of dishonest people involved in such works then mitigation of poverty is certainly possible.

We may now divert our attention to another very important matter relating to alleviation of poverty. Zakat is one of the five strong pillars of the grand edifice of Islam, We have an additional advantage to supplement our normal routine efforts vis-a-vis poverty alleviation by implementing relevant important Quranic Ayats directly connected with poverty alleviation. Islam is not only a scientific and chosen religion of Allah, according to a Quranic Ayat, He has perfected this religion also (Sura Al-Maida: Ayat 3). And as it is a religion perfected by Almighty Allah, it governs a man's life from cradle to grave. So, we must take full advantage of the relevant important Quranic Ayats with a view to mitigating sufferings of the poor and indigent people.

There are many Ayats (Verses) in the Quran wherein Benign Allah has asked His "Bandas" (servants) to be careful and cautious for payment of Zakat. He says in Ayat 110 of Sura (Chapter) Baqara or the Heifer of the Holy Quran : "And be steadfast in prayer and in payment of Zakat: and whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah : for Allah sees well all that ye do." (S.2: A.110). "Your (real friends) are noless (than) Allah, His Apostle, and the (Fellowship) of Believers, those who establish regular prayer and pay regular "Zakat" and they bow down humbly (in worship)." (S.5: A.55).

What would be the approximate number of our total population who are entitled or eligible for payment of Zakat in accordance with the rules 'procedure' laid down by Islam. Enormous, of course, but in my humble opinion the number of actual payers would not be more than 25 per cent of such eligible persons. This is unfortunate. We have a Religious Affairs Ministry besides Bangladesh Islamic Foundation to look after and safeguard the interests of the Muslims in this country. If it is not possible to oblige the eligible persons for payment of Zakat, they can at least prepare an exhaustive list of those fortunate persons and exhort them for payment of Zakat every year for alleviation of poverty. Letters requesting the revered Imams of all the mosques of Bangladesh may be issued to play their commendable role and contribute their mite while delivering their sermons on Friday. Our Religious Affairs Ministry may take suitable action in consultation with Islamic Foundation for launching campaign from time to time with a view to putting moral pressure on those who are eligible to pay Zakat so that they pay it in time every year.

When an officer of the Income Tax Department issues a letter to an income tax payee asking him to deposit his arrear income tax immediately then the defaulter goes out of his way to deposit his tax for he knows the serious consequences he will have to face if he fails to do so. But the same income tax payee is absolutely oblivious about payment of Zakat regularly every year in accordance with the dictates of the Quran because there is no reminder for this. There are hundreds of thousands of eligible persons in the country who should pay Zakat, and such payment will certainly go a long way in alleviation of poverty. Let our Religious Affairs Ministry please do the needful in consultation with the Islamic Foundation.

Kazi Aulad Hossain is a retired govt. high official.