The government will launch a pilot Probashi Card programme within the next month, with an initial rollout of a dual-currency debit card aimed at providing Bangladeshi expatriates with a wide range of financial, travel and public service benefits.
The decision was taken at a meeting on the Probashi Card chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday, said his Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.
"The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved a number of decisions regarding the Probashi Card. The card will offer a range of special facilities for expatriate Bangladeshis," he said.
Shadhin said the initiative is intended to enhance the social status and empowerment of expatriates, provide financial incentives and facilitate international payments and banking services through a dual-currency card.
The Probashi Card is one of the government's election pledges. The government has already begun implementing the Family Card, Farmers' Card and Sports Card programmes
The deputy press secretary said cardholders will enjoy a range of benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access at home and abroad, priority immigration services through dedicated booths, complimentary meet-and-greet services at international airports, discounts on airline tickets and hotel bookings, and affordable car booking services with airport pick-up and drop-off facilities for signature cardholders.
The card will also provide priority service booths at government hospitals and discounts at private hospitals, free transportation of the bodies of deceased expatriates, rehabilitation support for returnee migrants and insurance coverage.
Other benefits include priority services for land registration, mutation, utility connections, licensing and foreign investment, remittance reward points, credit scoring and loan facilities, direct money transfers through the card, and priority access to National Identity Card (NID), passport and consular services, along with other banking and government services.
The pilot launch of the Probashi Card is scheduled for the middle of next month. In the first phase, the state-owned Janata Bank will issue the Probashi Debit Card.
The meeting was informed that the government aims to distribute 50,000 cards by December this year and 200,000 cards by June next year. In the second phase, all Probashi Card-related services will be transferred to Probashi Kallyan Bank.
Shadhin also said the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to modernise the National Skills Development Authority to better meet current and future labour market demands.
He also instructed officials to ensure that Bangladeshis living around the world are brought under the coverage of the Probashi Card programme.
The meeting was attended by Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, State Minister Nurul Haque, Prime Minister's Advisers Rehan Asif Asad and Mahdi Amin, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Mokhtar Ahmed, Prime Minister's Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training Director General Jamil Ahmed and other senior officials.