Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent gifts to 2,000 distressed women across the country through mobile financial service (MFS) Nagad to mark the 91th birth anniversary celebration of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organized an event on Sunday at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium where Prime Minister Hasina joined virtually from Ganabhaban.
Each beneficiary received Tk2,000 from the prime minister, Nagad said in a press release.
Nagad bore the full cost and cash-out charge for the transactions — each beneficiary received additional Tk30 to their Nagad accounts to meet cash-out expenses.
Jatiyo Mohila Sangstha, a national women's organization under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, determined and selected the number of distressed women for the gift.
“The entire Nagad family is proud to be associated with such an impressive initiative on Bangamata’s birthday celebration,” said Tanvir A Mishuk, managing director of Nagad.
“Nagad have always been a people-oriented company. It has always partnered with the government in such projects. With such efforts, we are bringing marginalized people under digital financial services and helping the government to achieve the Digital Bangladesh goal,” he added.
Nagad also partnered with the government last year in the same event to distribute gifts on the birth anniversary of the Bangamata.
In the event, Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md Sayedul Islam gave the welcome speech at the event.
State Minister of Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira and Dhaka University Professor of Bangabandhu Chair Dr Syed Anwar Hussain shed light on the eventful life of Bangamata.
In the last one year, Nagad has set a unique precedent in the distribution of government allowances, grants and assistance, the press release adds.
During this time, Nagad has distributed various assistance, grants and allowances to about 30 million people about 80 million times.
Additionally, during Covid-19, it has taken a number of initiatives to reduce the cost of mobile financial services.
The official launch of Nagad as a digital financial transaction service of the Postal Department started on March 26, 2019.