34,000 Aila-hit people get low-cost bank accounts to get aid

As many as 34,000 Aila-affected people in Satkhira and Khulna got bank accounts for Tk 10 thanks to the Bangladesh Bank’s initiative to make their payments for farm and other financial assistance hassle-free.

The people, devastated by the cyclone Aila in 2009, have long been suffering from unusual delay in receiving cash assistance from the government for reviving their agriculture and other means of living.

Bringing an end to the unnecessary delay in disbursement, the central bank directed the state-owned banks in Satkhira and Khulna districts to allow the cyclone-hit people open bank accounts for Tk 10 so they can receive their cash assistance without any unusual delay.

BB governor Atiur Rahman told the news agency on Saturday that offering affordable bank accounts to the disadvantaged people was a step forward in bringing positive changes for the ultimate benefit of the people.

He said the people were now getting the cash assistance directly to their bank accounts, which is faster and hassle-free.

The governor said the central bank was also considering such account facilities for the people in the disaster-prone areas, who needs cash assistance in case of natural calamity.

Satkhira deputy commissioner Md Abdus Samad told the news agency that the Aila-hit people were now getting their financial assistance directly to their bank accounts.

He said they also started disbursing Tk 19 crore as house building grant to 10,000 people, who lost their houses to the devastating cyclone.

‘Each of the family will get Tk 20,000 for rehabilitation,’ the DC added.

Samad said the affected people would soon get the financial assistance for agriculture to their bank accounts.