Minara Helen: Mohammad Afzal Karim, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (MD) of Sonali Bank, the country’s state-owned financial institution, has urged people not to listen to the rumors being spread about the reserve crisis in Bangladesh. He said there is no reserve crisis in Bangladesh. He urged expatriates to avoid hundi and send money to the country legally. Mohammad Afzal Karim said these things in the speech of the chief guest at an discussion meeting titled ‘Foreign Remittances and Bangladesh’ held in Jamaica, New York on Friday evening, November 25 local time.
Consul General of Bangladesh in New York Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam was a special guest at the exchange meeting. One of the directors of Sonali Exchange, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, was an invited guest at the discussion meeting presided by Debashree Mitra, CEO of Sonali Exchange.
Afzal Karim said, considering the benefits of the country, nation and expatriates, the government is giving two and a half percent incentives to those who send foreign currency to the country and now there is no fee for sending remittances.
Mentioning that Sonali Exchange has launched a modern online system to provide home-to-home service to Bangladeshis living in the United States.
The MD of Sonali Bank said that soon customers will be able to send remittances to the country at home through the use of apps. In order to increase the quality of service to the expatriates, new branches will be opened or agents will be appointed in the states where Bangladeshi people live in the United States, he said.
Afzal Karim said that the Los Angeles branch of the United States of California, which has been closed, will be opened soon. The government is also considering the opening of a full-fledged branch of Sonali Bank in the United States.
Shahadat Hossain, Manager of Sonali Exchange Manhattan Branch, organized this discussion meeting organized by Sonali Exchange, a subsidiary of Sonali Bank in the United States. Sonali Exchange Jamaica Branch Manager Moniur Rahman, Ozone park Branch Manager Kabir Hossain and other officials of the organization were present in the meeting.
When the participants in the meeting raised issues such as assurance of investment in the country, complications in bringing money from the country, NID paradox, closure of bank accounts due to non-regular transactions due to being abroad, MD Mohammad Afzal Karim assured to solve them and mentioned that some issues are under the jurisdiction of the government.
Consul General Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam reiterated the importance of sending remittances through legal channels and said that sending money legally strengthens the economy of the country in his speech. He assured that the consulate is always open to serve expatriates and that he will do his best to improve the quality of service.
At the end of the meeting, MD Mohammad Afzal Karim and Consul General Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam answered various questions of the expatriates present.
It should be noted that MD Mohammad Afzal Karim visited the United States on a short visit on Thursday, November 24. He will stay in the US for a week. During this time, he is supposed to witness the official activities of Sonali Bank and Sonali Exchange and visit some branches.
Before thediscussion meeting, Mohammad Afzal Karim visited the Jamaica office of Sonali Exchange on Hillside Avenue, Jamaica and spent some time there. Besides monitoring the customer service, he also talked to the customers.
BP/SM
