BSS, Sangsad Bhaban :
Finance Minister AMA Muhith Tuesday informed the Jatiya Sangsad that the expatriate Bangladeshis sent a total of Taka 14.46 billion equivalent to $ 14,461 million home during the 2012- 13 fiscal year.
Responding to a tabled question of treasury bench member Begum Pinu Khan, he said the amount of foreign remittance was $3,646.77 million in 2003-04, $3,848.29 million in 2004-05, $ 4,801.88 million in 2005-06, $ 5,974.47 million in 2006-07, $7,914.78 million in 2007-08, $ 9,689.26 million in 2008-09, $ 10,987.40 million in 2009-10, $ 11,650.31 million in 2010-11, $ 12,843.43 million in 2011-12 and $ 14,461.14 million in 2012-13.
The minister said the present government has fixed a target of remittance inflow at $ 14 billion in the current fiscal till June 30, 20014.
Replying to another question of treasury bench member Md. Abdur Rahman, Muhith said the government had been able to collect Taka 37,102.23 crore in revenue income against targeted Taka 35,300 crore during the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Besides, he said the government has taken various pragmatic measurers to prevent capital flight out through “hund” or other smuggling means, thus significantly cutting down such illegal practices over the last few years.
The government has effectively enforced surveillance of the intelligence at all entry and exit points including airports and land ports of the country to check smuggling or similar criminal acts, he told the house.
