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The government is set to launch the pilot program for the ‘Probashi Card’ by next month. In the initial phase, an initiative has been taken to introduce debit cards specifically for expatriates.
This decision was made at a meeting on the Probashi Card, chaired by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman on Saturday afternoon, according to Shahadat Swadhin, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office.
He stated that the Probashi Card will incorporate special benefits for expatriates. The main objectives behind launching this card are to enhance the social status, empowerment, and financial incentives for expatriates, as well as to simplify international payments and banking services through dual currency facilities.
As part of the government’s electoral pledges, Family Card, Farmer Card, and Sports Card programs have already commenced. Continuing this trend, initiatives have also been taken to implement the Probashi Card.
Shahadat Swadhin mentioned that expatriates would receive various benefits through the Probashi Card. These include complimentary airport lounge access both domestically and internationally, expedited services through special immigration booths, meet and greet facilities at international airports, discounts on flight tickets and hotel bookings, fair-priced car bookings, and airport pick-up and drop-off services.
Additionally, cardholders will gain access to special expatriate service booths in government hospitals and receive discounts in private hospitals. In the unfortunate event of an expatriate’s death, free repatriation of the deceased’s body, rehabilitation assistance, and insurance benefits will be provided to returning expatriates. Furthermore, there are plans to grant priority in land registration, mutation, utility connections, licensing, and foreign investment for cardholders.
Through the Probashi Card, expatriates will have access to easy transaction opportunities, including remittance reward points, credit scoring, loan facilities, and direct money transfers. Simultaneously, priority in NID, passport, and consular services, along with access to various banking and government benefits, will also be included.
The Deputy Press Secretary informed that the Probashi Card would be inaugurated experimentally by the middle of next month. In the initial phase, Probashi Debit Cards will be issued through Janata Bank. A target has been set to distribute 50,000 Probashi Cards by December and 200,000 by June of next year.
In the subsequent phase, the Probashi Card operations will be managed through Probashi Kallyan Bank.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed that the National Skill Development Authority be made more modern and up-to-date. Additionally, concerned officials were instructed to ensure that all Bangladeshi expatriates in various countries worldwide can be brought under the purview of this card.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s Office, was attended by Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Arifur Haque Chowdhury, State Minister Nurul Haque Nur, Prime Minister’s Advisors Rehan Asif Asad and Mahdi Amin, Secretary of the concerned Ministry Mokhtar Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, BMET Director General Jamil Ahmed, and other senior officials.