57 NRBs to get CIP status

The government has picked up 57 non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to award commercially important person (CIP) status for their outstanding contribution to the country’s economy.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will hand over CIP cards and crests to the awardees soon, said officials.

The ministry published a gazette listing the names of the CIPs in three categories for the year.

Every year the ministry gives CIP status in the categories—direct investment to the country’s industries, sending the highest amount of remittance through a legal channel and importing products from Bangladesh.

This year one has been selected for CIP status for investment in the industry, 47 for sending the highest amount of remittances and nine for importing products from Bangladesh.

Among them, Abul Khair Mia will receive the CIP status for direct investment to industry in Bangladesh. He lives in Cambodia.

Twenty seven of the CIPs, Mohammad Mahtabur Rahman, Mohammad Mahabubul Alom, Omor Faruq, Mohammad Monir Hossain, Saiful Islam, Fakhrul Islam, Abul Kalam, Ripon Datta, Abdul Halim, Ibrahim Osman Aflatun, Mohammad Asfaqur Rahman, Mohammad Salim, Mohammad Ayub Ali, Abdul Gani Chowdhury, Morshedul Islam, Md Eunuch Mia Chowdhury, Mossammet Jasmin Akter, Nigar Sultana, Mohammad Abu Jafor Chowdhury, Iftekharul Alam, Motiur Rahman, Md Farid Ahmed, Md Izaz Hossain, Mohammad Ahsanur Rahman, Khorshed Alam, Mohammad Wahidul Islam and Mohammad Salim live in United Arab Emirates.

Nine of them, Mohammad Tauhidul Alom, Pervej Mohammad, Kabir Ahmed, Mohammad Badsha mia, Mohammad Shahajan Mia, Nurul Amin, Mohammad Yeasin Chowdhury, Mohammad Asrafur Rahman and Abdul Karim live in Oman.

SM Pervej Tomal and Md Alomgir Zalil live in Russia, Kibria Nayem and Md Kamruzzaman in Thailand, Sayed Mohammad Faruki Hasan in Canada, Mohammad Abdul Rahim and Ikram Forayzi in United Kingdom, Kazi Sarowar Habib in Japan, Maruf Ahmed and Kollol Ahmad in USA, Mohammad Azadur Rahman in Singapore, Nazrul Islam and Lutfur Rahman Munshi in Italy, Md Monjurul Alam in Australia, Abdul Aziz Khan in Qatar, Mohammad Alam in Saudi Arabia, Md Rafiqul Islam and Md Akhter Hossain in Malaysia, Shek Monjur Morshed in Japan, Mohammad Sohel Rana live in Maldives.

According to the policy, non-resident Bangladeshis are selected for CIP status under the remittance sender category if they send at least $100,000 in a fiscal year.

The CIP (NRB) cardholders will enjoy a number of facilities for the next one year from the day of issuance of the gazette that includes a card to be used for entering the secretariat and they will get reserved seats on government air, rail, road and waterways for business-related visits.

The CIPs, their spouses, and children will get priority in getting cabin facilities at government hospitals for medical treatment. The CIP cardholders will be allowed to use the VIP lounge and receive special luggage handling facilities at the airport.

They will also get special treatment in meeting high officials at home and abroad.