Dhaka: On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Zakat Conference–2026 was held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. The day-long conference was jointly organized by MASTUL Foundation and Al Zakat Sadaqah Foundation.

Following its tradition, this year marked the 7th edition of the Zakat Conference, jointly arranged by MASTUL Foundation and Al Zakat Sadaqah Foundation. The conference brought together renowned Islamic scholars from home and abroad, several government advisers, secretaries and senior officials, social workers, representatives of private organizations, development experts, academicians, doctors, as well as donors and well-wishers of MASTUL Foundation.

The conference was conducted in three sessions throughout the day. The chief guests of the three sessions included Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain, Honorable Adviser to the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Mr. Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports; Mr M. A. Akmal Hossain Azad, Member (Senior Secretary), Physical Infrastructure Division, Planning Commission; Islamic scholar and Director of the Center for Islamic Studies, Daffodil International University, Shaykh Professor Dr. Md. Mokhtar Ahmad; Shaykh Professor Dr. Mohammad Imam Hossain, Professor of Arabic, National University; and Shaykh Mufti Masum Billah, Chairman, Shariah Advisory and Research Council.

Special guests included Abdul Salam Khan, Director General of Islamic Foundation; Saidur Rahman Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; A. B. M. Sadekur Rahman, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; Md. Kalam Uddin Biswas, Director General(Additional Secretary), Department of Social Services; Md. Daud Mia (NDC), Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau; Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor, North South University; Professor Dr. Kamrul Ahsan, Vice Chancellor, University of Asia Pacific; Professor Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam, Vice Chancellor, Islamic Arabic University; Manwar Hossain Moinul, Managing Director, KGSM Group; Engineer Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Managing Director, Frabik Label Limited; Kamrul Hasan, Managing Director, Day Tempete Limited IT Solutions; and Faizul Rahman Khan, Director, BTI Limited. Prominent Islamic speakers included Dr. Mufti Waliur Rahman Khan, Muhaddith, Islamic Foundation; Shaikh Rezaul Karim Abrar, Chief Mufti, Jamia Mahmudia; Shaikh Mufti Ahsanul Islam (CSAA); and Shaikh Mufti Jubayer Abdullah Nabi, among others.

The core objective of Zakat Conference 2026 was to highlight the effectiveness, potential, and practical application of Zakat in poverty alleviation and humanitarian development. The conference also aimed to raise public awareness about the obligation and importance of Zakat, promote correct Zakat practices, discuss Zakat calculation and assessment, explore modern applications of Zakat, ensure transparency and accountability in Zakat distribution, and strengthen the capacity of Zakat-collecting and distributing institutions through a dedicated workshop.

Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of North South University, said that to achieve the true benefits of Zakat, it is essential to establish a well-organized and institutional Zakat fund. Instead of repeatedly giving Zakat to the same individuals, efforts should focus on creating self-reliance. He emphasized that the education system should be designed to make people self-sufficient rather than dependent. Alongside evaluating the impact and effectiveness of Zakat, he stressed that influential members of society must also play a responsible role. To achieve this goal, he called on people to pay their Zakat through transparent and institutional platforms such as MASTUL Foundation, so that Zakat becomes an effective instrument of social change rather than remaining limited to charity alone.

Muhaddith Dr. Mufti Waliur Rahman Khan of the Islamic Foundation said that among the core principles of Islam, Zakat most beautifully reflects the spirit of humanitarian cooperation. He noted that the true essence of Zakat lies in the instruction to spend a portion of one’s earnings for the welfare of others.He added that Zakat management has been given such importance in Islam that those engaged in administering it are permitted to receive their remuneration from Zakat funds, ensuring they do not become dependent on others. He further stated that the primary objectives of Zakat are attaining the pleasure of Almighty Allah and eradicating poverty goals that can be achieved through state initiatives or by paying Zakat through trusted institutions such as MASTUL Foundation.

Founder and Executive Director of MASTUL Foundation, Kazi Reaz Rahman, stated in his address: “All our efforts are solely for attaining the pleasure of Almighty Allah. Through proper and transparent utilization of Zakat funds, MASTUL Foundation is continuously working to improve the living standards and prosperity of the underprivileged. We firmly believe that if those upon whom Zakat is obligatory fulfill this duty responsibly and correctly, poverty will one day be eradicated from society, Insha’Allah.”