Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said e-banking has been introduced to stop illegal Hundi trade and enabling the expatriate Bangladeshis to send their hard-earned remittances easily. "Effective steps are being taken so that the expatriates can send their hard-earned remittances through private banks side-by-side with state-owned commercial banks, the PM told a civic reception here Tuesday night. Expatriate Bangladeshis hosted the reception in honour of the Prime Minister. Referring to the Prabashi Kalyan Bank, Sheikh Hasina said the bank is being established so that workers can go abroad by taking loan from it.

Prime Minister pointed out, "To go abroad, people would not have to sell their property or land and they can repay their borrowed money by doing jobs abroad,". The PM said separate desk has also been created at the airport for stopping harassment of the expatriates side-by-side with stepping up security. PM Sheikh Hasina said information cells have also been opened at the district level to know the position of expatriate Bangladeshis. Despite global economic recession, the PM said, export earnings of Bangladesh have increased to a great extent, while the expatriates have been contributing a lot in raising remittances. "The government would take steps to ensure the voting rights of the expatriates and provide them with machine readable passports," the PM added.

The PM also stressed the need for taking separate arrangements to solve the housing problems of the expatriates. "All kinds of facilities have been ensured so that Bangladeshi expatriates can invest their hard-earned money in the country, the PM mentioned.

News Source:Financial Express/Bangladesh/20 Jan 2011