DHAKA, April 27, 2024(BSS) - State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, MP, has urged the British-Bangladeshis to send remittances through legal channels for building the Smart Bangladesh announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The money sent by expatriates in Bangladesh through legal channels will be protected and there is an opportunity to earn more profit from this money than other countries through saving and investing with government incentives," he said.

The state minister made the remarks while speaking at the remittance fair as the chief guest organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Friday, according to a press release received here today.

The state minister said, there is a plan to introduce 'Remittance Award' for those who send maximum remittance through legal channels and the proposal of increasing the incentive from 2.5pc to 3pc for sending remittances, which has been given by the representatives of various remittance sending institutions, that will be raised at the highest level of the government for consideration.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is implementing various measures for the welfare of expatriates and increasing their facilities," he added.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem said in her welcome speech at the event, "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was launched Sonali Bank in the UK in 1974 and started sending remittances to Bangladesh through legal channels from the UK."

Following the ideals and ethics of Bangabandhu, his worthy daughter incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various steps with utmost importance to provide expatriates with special privileges in various fields including 2.5pc incentive for sending remittances and CIP status.

At the event, the representatives of various organizations sending remittances raised various proposals to take encouraging steps with special incentives for them.

Sultan Mahmud Sharif, one of the organizers of Bangladesh's great Liberation War in the UK, and prominent community figure Syed Sajidur Rahman Farooq spoke as special guests at the event.

To increase the flow of remittances to Bangladesh, the representatives of various organizations that send remittances also spoke at this special fair of the Bangladesh High Commission, London.

A total of 14 leading sending remittance companies from the UK to Bangladesh participated in the fair and informed the visitors about the facilities and incentives for sending remittances through legal channels.

Earlier, the state minister discussed various issues related to the interests and welfare of expatriates in an exchange meeting with British-Bangladeshi journalists.