There is a plan to introduce a "Remittance Award" for those who send maximum remittance through legal channels, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury said on Friday.
Speaking at a remittance fair organised by the Bangladesh High Commission in London, he said, "The money sent by expatriates to 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."
The state minister also urged British Bangladeshis to play a special role in building Smart Bangladesh by sending remittances through legal channels.
Ambassador Imran urges expatriates to send remittances through legal channels
He also said a proposal of increasing the incentive from 2.5% to 3% for sending remittances will be raised at the highest level of the government for consideration.
The state minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was implementing various measures for the welfare of expatriates and increasing their facilities.
Saida Muna Tasneem, the high commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK, said, "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched the Sonali Bank in the UK in 1974 and remittances from the UK began to be sent from Bangladesh through legal channels from the UK.
"Following the ideals and principles of Bangabandhu, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various steps with utmost importance to provide expatriates with special privileges in various fields, including a 2.5% incentive for sending remittances and CIP status."
Bangladesh received $2.16 billion remittances in February, highest in fiscal
President of Bangladesh Awami League, UK Sultan Mahmud Sharif and General Secretary Syed Sajidur Rahman Farooq spoke as special guests at the event.
A total of 14 leading companies sending remittances from 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.