The government will recognise 56 businesspeople on Thursday as Commercially Important Persons (CIPs) for their contributions to the country's industrial sector.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu will distribute the CIP cards (2016) among the recipients at a programme in Dhaka on Thursday morning.
The recipients will enjoy the facilities under the CIP cards for one year from the day of receiving it, an official said.
Eight business leaders --Abdul Matlub Ahmad, AK Azad, M Siddiqur Rahman, AKM Selim Osman, Rupali H Chowdhury, Selima Ahmad, Tapan Chowdhury, Mirza Nurul Gani Shovan -- will receive the CIP cards as ex-officiso, said the official, reports UNB.
Of the awardees, 20 people will receive CIP cards in the heavy industry (production) category while five will get in same category (service).
A total of 12 industrialists will receive the CIP cards in medium industry (production) category while three in the same category (service).
A total of five businesspersons will get CIP status in the category of small industries (production) while one person in the same category (service).
Meanwhile, two more businesspersons - one each in micro and cottage industries categories respectively - will get the CIP status.
A CIP card will remain valid for one year and the cardholders will get privileged entrance to ministries, invitation to various national-level events and citizen's reception hosted by the city corporation.
They also get priority in seat reservations in airlines, railways, roads and public transports in the waterways, and get letters of introduction from the foreign ministry for travelling abroad.
Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Industries Ministry Omor Faruk Chowdhury and President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin will also attend the event to be held with Industries Secretary (in-charge) Md. Abdul Halim in the chair.