Lowering rate of return on Sanchayapatras

I fully endorse the views expressed by Mr. Rahman Jahangir in his article entitled "Is lowering profit rate of Sanchayapatras for the elderly necessary at all?" The writer has shown enough reasons in support of his arguments which the government should ponder over. After all, it is the government that has the responsibility of people's welfare. We often notice in the banks that a large number of old people queue up to buy Sanchayapatras or draw quarterly instalments. They maintain a budget for the whole year based on the small income they make from Sanchayapatras. It will now be difficult for them to manage if the profit rate is lowered. Happily the Agriculture Minister Mrs. Matia Chowdhury requested the finance minister AMA Muhith to restore the earlier profit rates. She also pointed out the fact that 15 million Bangladeshis, who are senior citizens, do not have any other source of earnings and they have been left out of the existing social safety net programmes of the government. If the profit rate on Sanchayapatras is reduced, it will put them under severe pressure. I, therefore, urge Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to intervene in this matter and ensure the welfare of the elderly people.  

M Shafiqul Karim

Elephant Road, Dhaka-1205