Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasized on launching a massive campaign to motivate the people to expand insurance in the country. At the same time, he called on insurance companies to prioritize customer interests in providing services.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the inaugural function of National Insurance Day-2021 as the chief guest. The event was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). The Prime Minister joined the event through video conferencing from Ganobhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said insurance is a service profession. Public and private insurance companies need to work together with the regulatory authorities to give the highest priority to the interests of the customers as well as to make it popular and reach the doorsteps of the people.

The Prime Minister directed the insurance companies to provide information to the people so that they can avail benefits in times of crisis by opening insurance policies. "You have to run a wider campaign to make people aware of the need to encourage them to insure," he said.

Noting that the importance of insurance will gradually increase with the expansion of the country`s economy, the Prime Minister said that is why insurance companies should take more initiatives to create awareness among the people.

Stressing on the need for timely payment from insurance companies at this time, he said that people need to ensure that they get the insurance money properly according to their insurance or loss.

He also said that the tendency of some people in our country is to collect large sums of money from insurance companies through arranged accidents. At the moment such a trend has decreased. Even if it closes, companies need to be more vigilant and send skilled and competent people to investigate.

National Insurance Day-2021 was observed across the country yesterday with the theme `Promise of Mujib year, insurance should be for everyone`. Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the inaugural function of the day. Welcoming remarks were made by the Senior Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions. Asadul Islam. Besides, President of Bangladesh Insurance Association Sheikh Kabir Hossain also spoke. A documentary on the insurance sector was also screened at the event.

Incidentally, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first joined the insurance profession by joining Alpha Insurance Company on March 1, 1970. To commemorate the day, the government is observing March 1 every year as National Insurance Day. On the occasion of National Insurance Day, special honors were conferred on four eminent persons for their significant contribution to the sector. On behalf of the Prime Minister, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal MP handed over the crest of honor to them. Besides, Bangabandhu education insurance was distributed among four students on the occasion. In all, 50,000 students are being brought under this insurance.