Remittance very important amid global economic crisis: Planning minister in UAE

Planning Minister MA Mannan said remittances from expatriates are of great importance for Bangladesh during the global economic crisis.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest during the inaugural session of the three-day expatriate festival organised by Idea Gallery at Sharjah Expo Center in the United Arab Emirates yesterday (October 14, 2022).

On the occasion, the expatriates expressed various views, including on stopping hundi trade, preventing illegal gold shipments, stopping harassment at the airport, waiving charges for sending remittances and resolving the complexity of national identity cards to increase remittances through the legal route.

Urging expatriates to send remittances through legal routes, the minister said that the government is very sincere about all their reasonable demands. "We will ask all the banks of the country to be more sensible about their services to the expatriates."

The planning minister also said that it is good to criticise the government, but criticism should not be for the sake of politics.

Referring to the global economic slowdown, he said the economy and politics should not be tied-up.

Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Kazi Saidur Rahman; Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Muhammad Abu Jafar; Chairman of Association of Bankers Bangladesh and Managing Director (MD) of BRAC Bank Selim R F Hossain; President of NRB-CIP Association and Chairman of NRB Bank Mahtabur Rahman Naser were present at the programme as special guests.

First Secretary (Labour) Fakir Monowar Hossain moderated the programme while Commercial Councilor Kamrul Hasan highlighted various aspects of Bangladesh's economy.

Later, the minister inaugurated the expatriate festival and visited the fair.

A total of 20 organisations, including banks from Bangladesh and various exchanges in the UAE, put up stalls at the festival.

Painting competitions for expatriates' children and teenagers, pitha festival, fashion shows for women, and other colorful cultural events were also part of the programme.

The festivals, which are open for all, will run from 4-10 pm every day till Sunday (October 16, 2022).

Abdullah Al Shaheen is a journalist based in UAE.