A two-day Zakat Fair 2024 will begin at Aloki Convention Centre at Gulshan Tejgaon Link Road in the city on Saturday (March 2).

Centre for Zakat Management (CZM) will organise the event with the theme of 'Making a Difference with Zakat'.

Eminent economist and former advisor to caretaker government Professor Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman will inaugurate the fair at 11 am on Saturday.

Former Secretary of the government Arastu Khan, convener of the fair organising committee, at a press conference at the Economic Reporters Forum Auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday said that a number of organisations are sponsoring the Zakat Fair 2024.

They are Rahimafrooz, Khadim Ceramics, Kohinoor Chemicals, Rahim Steel, South Bridge, Hajj Finance Company Limited.

Zakat Fair will be open for all from 09.00 am to 7.00 pm. It will have stalls of various financial and zakat institutions including zakat consultation desk, stalls of various Islamic books.

Chairman of Zakat Distribution Committee of Centre for Zakat Management and former chairman of NBR Mohammad Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohammad Ayub Mia and Sheikh Abdur Rashid chairman of the audit committee of the CZM were present at the press conference.

Arastu Khan said, "Zakat Fair is being organised to popularise the idea of ensuring social and economic security of Zakat".

He urged the wealthy and all those concerned to visit the fair to learn about zakat-based activities and to know the details of business zakat calculation methods including the accurate calculation of personal zakat.

A total of six sessions will be held during this year's Zakat Fair.

The inaugural seminar titled "CZM's Zakat-based Programs: A pioneering Innovation for Poverty Alleviation" will be held at 11 am.

A seminar on 'Importance of Zakat, Ushar and Waqf in Human Welfare' will be held for Khatibs and Imams at 11:00 am and a round table session on 'Role of Islamic Social Finance in Reducing Inequality' will be held in the afternoon.

Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud, Chairman, Economic Research Group will be present as the chief guest in the round table meeting to be chaired by Abdul Mueed Chowdhury, former advisor of caretaker government.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Muhammad Abdur Rauf, Former Minister Lt: J: (Retd:) M Nuruddin Khan, Emeritus Professor Dr. Shahjahan Khan Islami Bank's Consultative Forum Vice Chairman AKM Nurul Bulbul and many other eminent personalities of the society are expected to attend the Zakat Fair as special guests and speakers.