The government has directed the banks to open accounts for the street and working children to ensure the safety of their hard-earned money, Finance Minister AMA Muhith told parliament yesterday.
In response to a question from Awami League MP Didarul Alam (Chittagong-4), the minister said some non-governmental organisations and banks were working to open bank accounts for the street children.
“The main objective is to create opportunities for the working and street children to secure their earnings and to bring them under banking services,” Muhith said in the written scripts presented at the House.
The issue was not discussed further in parliament.
He said the move would enable the working and street children to get acquainted with socioeconomic issues. The minister said the NGOs and the bank officials would work as their mentors to ensure proper utilisation of their deposits.
The culture of deposit would help reduce the possibility of being derailed and getting addicted to drugs and would thereby contribute to society’s development, said Finance Minister Muhith.
Children having the bank accounts would be able to get loans from the banks concerned after turning 18 years and could then develop themselves as small business entrepreneurs.
