Software for matching prize bond numbers

The government has developed software to enable owners of prize bonds that cost Tk 100 each to find the result of the draw in a move that is likely to help investors, many of whom do not even check results because of hassle of matching each number from the results.

Termed as Prize Bond Result Inquiry Software (PBRIS), the programme was officially inaugurated by the Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the finance ministry at an event at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) headquarters yesterday.

Prize bond buyers will be able to download their claim forms through the software and get more information regarding the draw, said Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, senior secretary of the IRD, while inaugurating the software.

Muneem, also the chairman of the NBR, went on to say that there are two ways to search the results through the software. One is by typing the number directly into the search box and the other is uploading the number.

Shah Alam, director of the Department of National Savings under the IRD, said as many people are not claiming the prizes, a lot of money remains unclaimed.

Alam said as the digit number of the prize bond is seven, it takes a long time to match those after the draw.

If anyone has 5,000 prize bonds, they will know in one minute whether he has won the prize or not through this web software.

Efforts have been going on for the past one year to create this software, Alam added.

Muneem said prize bonds were once very popular but it is slowly losing its popularity because it takes a lot of time to match the results.

"We want to popularise the prize bond. As part of that, we launched this software. The IT team of our IRD has created this beautiful software with the help of its own manpower. I hope that this software will be useful," he added.

An NBR official said buyers would also be able to make free e-mail subscriptions.

They will be informed about the results of the prize bond draw on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31.