National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan on Monday urged wealthy people to give zakat and other donations to poor in an effort to reduce poverty.
The NBR chairman was speaking at the launching ceremony of Noor, an Android-based Islamic app developed by Robi Axiata Ltd to facilitate digital payment of zakat.
The programme held at the InterContinental Dhaka was attended by senior officials of Robi Axiata Ltd.
“The social security system of zakat ensures transfer of surplus wealth from rich to poor to alleviate poverty in a sustainable way,” said Mosharraf, who hailed Robi for bringing an innovative digital donation system ahead of Ramadan.
“I hope everybody can contribute through Noor app and it will be popular,” he hoped.
Robi Managing director and CEO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said, “If managed properly, zakat can be a tool to eliminate poverty permanently. We are trying to inspire people for giving zakat and other donations by using Noor app.’
He also said that a digital lifestyle was not only for entertainment, but could also be utilized for serving noble purposes of life.
“Robi customers will be able to avail the service by standing beside the poor digitally. The initiative clearly proves innovative digital solutions are changing the life for better,” the Robi CEO added.
Through Noor app, zakat or sadaqah donation could be given to five verified charitable organizations. They are Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital, Bidyanondo Foundation, Child and Old Age Care, Scholars School for Special Children, and Rahmat-E-Alam Islam Mission Orphanage.
At the programme, the organizers said Robi and Bidayanondo Foundation were jointly operating the first ever digital Iftar vending machine “Amar Iftar.”
Robi Customer will be able to contribute to the Amar Iftar initiative through purchasing recharge bundles. For every purchase of Tk43 and Tk118 bundles by the customers, Robi will donate Tk2 and Tk4 to the Bidayanondo Foundation, respectively.
The digital Iftar vending machines will be located at various locations in Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangpur and Rajshahi.
Volunteers of the Bidayanondo Foundations will undertake biometric pre-registration of underprivileged children and elder people.
The registered people can then collect their Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan by just verifying their thumb imprints in those vending machines.
Robi’s General Manager (Market Operations) Md Farhad Hossain said: “The key features of the Noor App include Quran recitation, Namaz alert, Hajj information, mosque locater, Qiblat compass, and zakat calculator.”
Robi’s General Manager (External Relations) Ashikur Rahman was also present on the occasion.