Staff Reporter :
Indian government’s sudden announcement of banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has pushed the Bangladesh travellers, especially patients and their relatives, into serious difficulties.
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes with effect from midnight on that day, a section of foreign currency exchange traders at Benapole Border Check Post, are reportedly buying taka from the India going Bangladesh nationals at a cost of half of value of the note.
A large number of Bangladeshis now in India for medical treatment, routine pathological tests as well as tour are worst affected. Of them, many people along with their ailing relatives have already been compelled to return home failing to avail medical care.
It is notified that the house and hotel owners would not to take Rs 500 and RS 1000 currency notes from anyone. The Indian government hospitals, pharmacies in government hospitals, airline ticket counters, bus ticket counters, railway ticket counters and petrol pumps will, however, accept old notes for the next 72 hours, till tonight (Friday midnight.
Nikhil Chandra, a Bangladesh national who returned home on Tuesday from Kolkata, said Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes are not being accepted anywhere in India.
“Like me many Bangladesh nationals now traveling India, are being harassed in many ways as Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes are not being taken anywhere. Even when I went to a medical shop for purchasing medicines, I was refused,” he told journalists
As a result, many Bangladesh national are being compelled to return home with empty hand.
Hasina Akhter, a resident of city’s Malibagh area along with her ailing son has been staying at a rented house in Kolkata for treatment for about two months, said her house owner made clear that he would not receive any banned money as payment.
“Even, when I went to the hospital for paying Rs 45,000 as treatment expenditure, the hospital authority refused to accept the payment,” she said.
