DHAKA: Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of the country, on Sunday awarded twenty four Bangladeshi expatriates for playing a vital role in country’s economy.
Twenty of them were awarded for sending the highest amount of remittance and four others for the highest level of bond investment.
The bank authority provided crests and certificates to them in a program titled ‘Bangladesh Bank Remittance Award-2013’ at a city hotel on Sunday.
One of the awardees, Mahtabur Rahman, said that this award will inspire the expatriates to send remittance in legal ways.
He also commented that the country’s situation is now suitable for investment.
He suggested that the difference between the rate of buying and selling of dollar should be reduced.
One of BB deputy governors SK Sur Chowdhury said that the remittance of the expatriates played an important role in the economy of the country.
The award is to recognize their contribution to the country’s economy as well as inspire them to send money through banks.
He also said that a survey showed that around 55 percent Bangladeshi expatriates were unskilled until 2011 but now the scenario has been changed.
SK Sur said that with the inspiration of the government the skilled people are now going to abroad and making good amount of money.
According to the calculation of 2013, Bangladesh secured eighth position for sending the highest remittance at home, he added.
He also said that the remittance sent illegally is harmful for the country. The money can be misused in many ways, he added.
According to the government information, some 2.35 millions skilled workers were flown to abroad in past five years. Around 14.46 billion US dollars inward remittance flow was recorded last fiscal year.
On the other hand, some 5.02 billion US dollars inward remittance was recorded in 2014-2015 fiscal year. Sixty six percent of total foreign currency reserve in the current fiscal year was secured by inward remittance.
Another BB deputy governor Naznin Sultana and Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) chairman Ali Reza Iftekhar, among others, were present at the event.
BDST: 2020 HRS, NOV 23, 2014
