Factors Influencing Proper Zakah Payment in Dighalia Upazila of Khulna District, Bangladesh

The research identifies factors influencing proper zakah paying behavior in Dighalia upazila of Khulna district of Bangladesh. Summary statistics shows that most zakah amounts are paid in cash and are paid in the month of Ramadan. None paid zakah through any institution rather paid personally to both relatives and non-relatives. A logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting proper zakah payment. Result shows that performers of hajj and chilla have 80 percent and 73 percent more likelihood respectively to be exact zakah payers than those who have not performed those. Regular readers of religious book have 54 percent higher probability to be exact zakah payers than other category. The study suggests taking step to increase awareness of zakah payers in order to reduce poverty and inequality. As many zakah payers are unorganized and pay in piecemeal meal to many people and in uncoordinated way, collective and coordinated approach zakah management can bring greater effect.