24 get BB Remittance Award

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) honoured 24 top remitters at a function at a city hotel Sunday for contributing to the country's economic growth by sending a significant amount of foreign currency in 2013.
The central bank formally acknowledged the contribution of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) for the first time by introducing the Bangladesh Bank Remittance Award.
Of them 20 were awarded for sending the highest amount of remittance, while four for the highest investment in bonds.
The awardees are: Mahiul Muhammed Khan Mukit, Mahtabur Rahman, Rezaul Hasan, Zakir Hossain, Abul Kalam, Sayadur Rahman Habib, Jafar Ahmed, Emadur Rahman, Nazmul Hossain Gazi, Nizam Mohammad Meah, SAK Ekramuzzaman, Syed Abdul Qaiyum, Abu Taher Mohammed Amanullah, Mir Azmal Ali, Ohid Molla, Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, Emdadul Islam, Muqitur Rahman, Ahmadul Ameen, Robin Rahman, Mohammed Oliur Rahman, Mizan Mohammad Zahid, Abdul Karim, and Akther Hossain.
"You are our unsung heroes. You are Bangladesh's ambassadors. You are our national flag. Please uphold the country's image abroad and contribute more to its economic growth," BB deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury told the NRBs while speaking as the chief guest.
He said the country's foreign currency reserve stands at over US$22 billion, which is good enough to make import payment for six months.
"You, the hero remitters, are behind the big achievement," Mr Chowdhury said, adding that the NRBs also played an important role in raising investment in the country.
Praising the remitters for their contribution he said Bangladesh will soon graduate to a middle-income country.
The BB deputy governor informed that the government and the central bank have taken various steps and introduced attractive schemes to accelerate remittance inflow.
"Profit from investment in certain bonds has been made tax-free, and Non-resident Investors Taka Account has been introduced to help the NRBs invest in the stock market."
Mr Chowdhury requested the NRBs to send their hard-earned foreign currency to Bangladesh through proper banking channel instead of illegal channels.
Speaking as the special guest on the occasion chairman of Association of Bankers, Bangladesh and managing director and CEO of Eastern Bank Ltd Ali Reza Iftekhar said the solid growth in remittance inflow is a remarkable achievement for the country.
He also said foreign remittance is one of the major contributors to the country's economic growth. The contribution of remittance to gross domestic product (GDP) has now reached 10 per cent from 5.0 per cent in 2005.
One of the award recipients - Mahtabur Rahman - said the central bank's recognition will encourage the NRBs to send remittance through banking channels.
He demanded setting up an exclusive export processing zone (EPZ), where the NRBs can invest, and expansion of the Board of Investment's (BoI) one-stop service at district level to help the investors.
Mr Rahman said there is a significant gap in buying and selling foreign currencies in banks, which discourages the remitters to use legal channel.
"Please reduce the gap to encourage the remitters to avoid illegal channels of sending remittance," he added.
BB deputy governor Nazneen Sultana presided over the function. BB deputy governor Abul Quasem and general manager Manoj Kumar Biswas, and high officials from the Ministry of Finance and the central bank were present at the function.

syful-islam@outlook.com