Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged insurance companies to take initiative so that awareness can be raised among people regarding the benefits of opening insurance policies, reports UNB.
"There is a lack of awareness among people regarding the utilities of insurance. I hope that those involved in the insurance sector will take initiative so that awareness among people could be raised," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing the National Insurance Day 2021 programme held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.
The theme of this year's National Insurance Day is 'Mujib Borsher Ongikar, Bima Hok Sobar'.
She said if awareness can be generated then people would opt for opening various types of insurance policies.
"For this purpose, huge publicity is urgently needed," she said.
Sheikh Hasina also elaborated the government's initiatives for developing the insurance industry and noted that the Insurance Act 2010 and National Insurance Policy 2014 were formulated to replace the old law of 1938.
Besides, the government also constituted the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority in 2010 to give the industry an institutional shape, she added.
Referring to a project of Tk 632 crore for the development of the country's insurance sector, she mentioned that the government in collaboration with the World Bank is implementing it to bring all insurance companies under automation.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Bangladesh Insurance Association president Sheikh Kabir Hossain and senior secretary of Financial Institutions Division of Finance Ministry Mohammad Asadul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, on behalf of the Prime Minister, gave away Bima Padak among recipients for their contribution in the insurance sector of the country, and Bangabandhu Education Insurance Certificates among the students.