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The government will launch the ‘Probashi Card’ on a pilot basis in mid-August to provide a range of services and incentives for Bangladeshi expatriates, with the ‘Probashi Debit Card’ to be introduced in the first phase.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday, Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin said.
He said the initiative aims to enhance expatriates’ social recognition, empowerment and financial inclusion by offering international payment and banking facilities through a dual-currency card.
The government has already started implementing the Family Card, Farmer Card and Sports Card as part of its election pledges. The Probashi Card will be the latest addition.
According to the meeting, the first phase of the programme will be implemented through Janata Bank. The government plans to issue 50,000 Probashi Debit Cards by December and 200,000 by June next year.
In the second phase, the Probashi Kallyan Bank will oversee all activities related to the card.
According to the government, Probashi Card holders will receive a range of benefits and priority services.
These include complimentary access to airport lounges at home and abroad, fast-track immigration through dedicated counters, and complimentary meet-and-greet services at international airports.
Cardholders will also be eligible for discounts on air tickets and hotel bookings, discounted vehicle booking services in Bangladesh and overseas, and airport pick-up and drop-off facilities for Signature Card holders.
The card will provide access to dedicated service booths at government hospitals and discounts at selected private hospitals.
It will also cover the cost of repatriating the bodies of deceased cardholders, along with rehabilitation support for returning migrants and insurance benefits.
In addition, cardholders will receive priority services for land registration, mutation, utility connections, licensing and foreign investment.
The card will also offer remittance reward points, credit scoring, loan facilities and direct money transfer services.
Priority access to National ID (NID), passport and consular services, as well as other banking and government services, will also be available to cardholders.
The meeting was attended by Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, State Minister Nurul Haque Nur, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Mokhtar Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, and BMET Director General Jamil Ahmed.
