DHAKA: Eleven Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) have received Commercially Important Persons (CIP) cards for their outstanding contribution to the country’s economy.

Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain handed over the cards to 10 of them at a ceremony at the ministry conference room on Thursday.

Ministry secretary Dr Khandakar Shawkat Hossain and other high-officials, among others, were present at the event.

Terming the CIPs as the pride of the country, he said that after receiving the cards, their responsibilities to the country have increased.

The secretary, Shawkat Hossain, in his speech, said the non-resident Bangladeshis have played an important role in the development of the country.

The people, who have been awarded as CIPs, played more important roles, he added.

From 55 applicants, the government has selected 11 non-residents Bangladeshis (NRBs) as CRPs.

Among them, 10 were selected for the cards in the category of sending foreign currencies and one for import in the year of 2013.

Dubai-expatriate Mohammad Mahtabur Rahman suggested to increase the number of CIPs and said that investment in Bangladesh will increase if the government provides security and un-interrupted supply of power and energy.

London-expatriate Mohammad Adnan Imam said that they can take the opportunities in the sector of information technology.

List of the Commercially Important Person (CIP) includes Dubai-expatriates Mohammad Mahtabur Rahman (Sylhet), Abul Kalam (Comilla) and Mohammad Abul Kalam (Chittagong) and UK-expatriates Mohammad Ali Talukder (Dhaka) and Mohammad Adnan Imam (Chittagong) and Qatar-expatriates Mohammad Samsul Alam (Chittagong), Mohammad Rafiqul Islam (Chittagong) and Abdul Aziz Khan (Pabna) and Oman-expatriates Abul Kalam Azad (Chittagong) and Kazi Safiqul Islam (Chandpur) and Russia-expatriate Mohammad Firoz-ul-Alam (Jhenaidah).

BDST: 1545 HRS, SEP 18, 2014