SANGSAD BHABAN, June 6, 2024 (BSS) - Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali
said the government is taking steps to include unpaid services in the
national income accounting.

"Steps are being taken to assess how the unpaid services can be included in
the national income accounting," he said while placing around Taka 7.97 lakh
crore national budget for FY25 at Jatiya Sangsad (JS) here this afternoon.

In his speech, Ali said a number of reform programmes have already been
carried out to maintain the stability of the financial sector and to ensure
deeper engagement of the financial sector with the grassroots of the country
to ensure sustainable development.
 
"For example, Mobile Financial Services (MFS) and modern payment systems are
being expanded to increase participation in financial inclusion activities,"
he said.

"Various initiatives have been taken to develop the MFS system by reducing
cash out charges and increasing transaction limits, use of MFS accounts in
micro credit programmes including disbursement of social security programme
allowances under G2P system, and expansion of sub-branch and agent banking
systems," he added.

As a result, he said, its popularity and acceptance at the individual and
business level is increasing and the involvement of people in the financial
sector is also increasing at a rapid pace.

"As of January 2024, the number of agents registered under MFS is about 17
lakh 39 thousand, the number of customers is about 22 crore and the number of
active customers is 8 crore 37 lakh," he added.