A special fund is likely to be introduced soon by the Bangladesh Bank for making the ‘Taka 10’ bank accounts effective, especially for the marginal farmers who do not have enough savings to keep their accounts moving.

Only 30% of the over 13m such accounts are now active in real terms with regular transactions by their holders, according to a senior official of the central bank.

“Yes, most of the Tk10 accounts are not active as expected, but we are planning special fund, which will soon take place to make the accounts more dynamic and beneficial,” Governor Atiur Rahman told BSS recently.

He did not detail about the size of the fund and the conditions to get a share of it, but said a directive would soon be given to the respective banks to introduce the fund.

The official, however, said the size of the fund would be reasonable to offer financial help to most of the Tk10 account holders who will be capable of using the money in farming and in other profitable agro-based sectors.

Introduced in 2010, farmers, freedom fighters and the persons who get allowances under the social safety net programme were offered to open and maintain a bank account by depositing only Tk10.

Later, cleaning staff of different cities and towns were also brought under the scheme.

News:Dhaka Tribune/17-Nov-2013