Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned to bring insurance activities under technology based automation system and quickly settle clients' insurance claims to restore the people’s faith.
"Bring all activities of the insurance sector under technology based automation system," she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the first-ever National Insurance Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) on Sunday, with a vow to build a developed country.
She also asked them to undertake massive publicity programs to create awareness on insurance and attract more people to the insurance schemes, reports UNB.
The prime minister emphasized implementation of modern ICT based automation system aimed at making insurance services easier for clients.
Noting that the people still lack trust in the insurance industry, she urged the authorities to give special importance to overcome this problem.
She particularly mentioned some risk oriented sectors like transport and garment, saying the working class people should be brought under insurance policies so that they can get financial security at their bad times, such as accidents.
Prime Minister Hasina emphasized providing training to the educated youths on insurance, and said they could be made free from the curse of unemployment.
She said Bangladesh Bank and Insurance Development and Controlling Authority are going to introduce “Bangabandhu Education Insurance” for the school students.
She said the step has been taken to ensure that students of different schools, up to secondary level, can have access to education in the absence of their parents or guardians.
The insurance sector
Sheikh Hasina highlighted the involvement of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the insurance sector. She said Bangabandhu worked in the insurance industry alongside doing politics to meet his livelihood expenses.
After independence, Bangabandhu enacted necessary laws and formed institutional bodies to make the insurance industry more vibrant, she said.
Sheikh Hasina also elaborated the government’s initiatives for the development of the insurance industry and said, the Insurance Act 2010 was formulated in place of the old law of 1938, while the National Insurance Policy 2014 was also formulated.
Besides, the government also constituted the Insurance Development and Controlling Authority 2010, to give the industry an institutional shape, she added.
The prime minister said the government introduced insurance for expatriate Bangladeshi workers, while steps have also been taken to introduce various types of insurances including agriculture insurance, health insurance, insurance for the rail passengers, and building insurance.
Referring to a project of Tk632 crore for the development of country’s insurance sector, she mentioned that the government, in collaboration with the World Bank, is implementing it to bring all insurance companies under the automation system.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that the full implementation of the project would help increase professional and technological capability of the insurance companies, as well as strengthen trust and confidence of the people in the sector.
"Besides, the government also introduced state of the art IT based Unified Messaging Platform System to protect interest of the clients," she said.
The prime minister vowed to establish a poverty and hunger free developed country with the cooperation of all, as dreamt by Bangabandhu.
Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal presided over the function, Insurance Development and Controlling Authority Chairman Shafiqur Rahman Patwary, Finance Division Senior Secretary Ashraful Alam, Bangladesh Insurance Association President Sheikh Kabir Hossain, and Bangladesh Insurance Forum President BM Yusuf Ali spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister unveiled two insurance related books titled IDRA Directives and Bima Manual. She also distributed Bima Padak among five recipients for their contribution in the insurance sector of the country.