3-day remitters’ festival in UAE from October 14

A three-day long remitters' festival will begin in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 14 to encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to send remittance through legal channel.

The festival, fifth time for this year, will continue from 4pm to 10pm (local time) every day till Sunday (October 16).

Planning Minister MA Mannan is expected to inaugurate the festival at Expo Centre Sharjah in UAE.

At least 20 officials, including the deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank and the chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB), are scheduled to join the event.

George Khan of Idea Gallery, the organiser of the festival, said a large part of Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves come from expatriate income. The festival is organised every two years since 2013 with the aim of increasing this income manifold.

Banks, exchange houses and community organisations mainly participated in the event.

CIP status and award for best remitters will be conferred this year too.  From this year, the highest remittance receiving Bangladeshi bank and the best bank branch and exchange houses among seven provinces in UAE will be honored.