Bangladesh to Launch Pilot ‘Expatriate Card’ in August, Offering 10 Key Benefits to Overseas Citizens

The Bangladesh government is set to launch a pilot programme for its long-awaited Expatriate Card next month, aiming to provide overseas Bangladeshis with a range of financial, travel, and public service benefits while recognising their contribution to the country's economy.

The decision was announced at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarek Rahman, where officials confirmed that the pilot phase of the initiative is expected to begin in mid-August. Initially, the cards will be issued through state-owned Janata Bank before the programme is expanded nationwide. 
The Expatriate Card is part of the government's broader commitment to improve services for Bangladeshis living abroad and to encourage greater engagement with the country's economy through easier access to banking, investment, and government services.

Ten Major Benefits

According to officials, cardholders will receive a wide range of privileges, including:

* Access to airport lounges and dedicated immigration counters in Bangladesh.
* Meet-and-greet assistance at designated international airports.
* Discounts on airline tickets, hotel bookings, and transportation services.
* Priority healthcare services at public hospitals and discounted treatment at selected private hospitals.
* Free repatriation of deceased expatriates to Bangladesh under the programme's provisions.
* Insurance coverage and rehabilitation support for returning migrant workers.
* Priority processing for land registration, utility connections, licences, and investment-related services.
* Easier access to National Identity (NID), passport renewal, and consular services.
* Dual-currency banking facilities to simplify international financial transactions.
* Reward points, improved credit scoring, and access to loan facilities for expatriates sending remittances through formal banking channels.

Rollout Plan

The government plans to distribute approximately 50,000 cards by December this year. Officials also announced a target of issuing 200,000 cards by June next year as the programme expands.

While Janata Bank will oversee the initial pilot phase, responsibility for issuing and managing the Expatriate Card will later be transferred to the Probashi Kallyan Bank, which specialises in serving Bangladeshi migrant workers and overseas citizens. 

 Strengthening Support for Overseas Bangladeshis

Officials said the initiative is designed to strengthen ties with Bangladesh's expatriate community by recognising their significant contribution through remittances, which remain one of the country's largest sources of foreign exchange.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman instructed the relevant authorities to gradually extend the programme to Bangladeshis living across the world, ensuring that eligible expatriates can benefit from the new system. He also directed the National Skills Development Authority to modernise its programmes to better prepare workers for overseas employment.

Government representatives from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, senior advisers, and other high-ranking officials attended the meeting outlining the implementation roadmap for the new scheme.