To create self-employment opportunities for the post graduate unemployed youth. Sonali Bank decided to revive 'Bikalpa' (Employment Scheme for University Students), says a press release.

Efforts are underway to re start the air-conditioned and metered taxi/cab services at an initial stage.

It may be mentioned that in 1984-85 Sonali Bank launched the scheme "Bikalpa". During that period, employment opportunities for 226 educated unemployed youth were created within one year.

The schemes Introduced during the same period were for

minibus. Taxi/cab. textile, clinic and dental clinic, pharmaceuticals. engineering, printing press and photostat

machine. Some bottlenecks cropped up in the lending programme under Bikalpa for unavoidable reasons but a few schemes resulted in remarkable success.

The main objective of taxi services going to be started soon this time under Bikalpa is to generate self employment opportunities and ensure trans-portational facilities for the foreigners coming to Dhaka through launching taxi services ol international standard. Some of those who received loans under Bikalpa in the past have come forward to repay their loans and assist the bank in reviving the scheme.