The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The retail prices of essentials and vegetables remained almost stable in the city markets, according to a market report of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on Friday.

The price of coarse rice in different markets, including Kamalapur, New Market, Karwanbazar, Kalyanpur, Kachukhet and Mohammadpur, is ranging between Taka 22 and Taka 23 per kg today.

The rice is being sold at Taka 22 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 19 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the report said, the per kg coarse rice is being sold at a price equivalent to Taka 25.

Packet of one-kg flour is being sold between Taka 31 and Taka 32 in ordinary markets, while the price of the item is Taka 31 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 29 at BDR-run sales centres.

In Kolkata, the flour is sold at Taka 25 per kg, the report said.

The price of imported lentil (mashur) is between Taka 62 and Taka 65 per kg in ordinary markets, while it is being sold at Taka 62 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 58 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of the lentil is Taka 60.71 per kg.

Imported gram (Chhola) is being sold at a price ranging between Taka 63 and Taka 65 per kg in different retail markets. In Kolkata, the item is being sold at Taka 53.57.

The item is being sold at Taka 65 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 55 at BDR-run sales centres Sugar is being sold at Taka 28 per kg in ordinary markets compared to Taka 29.46 in Kolkata and Taka 28 in BDR-run open markets.

Onion (imported) is being sold at Taka 34 to Taka 38 per kg in ordinary city markets, while its price in Kolkata is Taka 32.14. Onion is being sold at Taka 35 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 25 at BDR-run sales centres.

The price of green chili, however, is ranging from Taka 140 to Taka 150 per kg in ordinary city markets. The item is sold at Taka 130 at BDR-run open markets. The price of green chili in Kolkata is equivalent to Taka 71.42.

The potato is being sold at Taka 20 per kg in all the ordinary markets. The price of potato in BDR-run open market is Taka 19 and at BDR sales centers Taka 18. In Kolkata, the price of the item is equivalent to Taka 16.07.

Soyabean oil is being sold at Taka 79 to 80 per litre in ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 80 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 73 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of soyabean oil is Taka 105.35 per litre.

Palm oil is being sold at Taka 73 to 78 per liter in ordinary markets. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil is Taka 103.57 per litre.

The item is being sold at Taka 78 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 73 at BDR-run sales centres, the report added.

Staff Reporter

A two-day workshop on New Capital Accord (Basel II) began in the city on Wednesday, says a press release.

Education Excellence, a new generation consulting, education and communication firm, organised the workshop at BRAC Centre Inn in Mohakhali.

Northern University Vice-Chancellor Dr. M Shamsul Haque inaugurated the workshop, while Education Excellence Chief Executive Officer Samira Farhat Amin, among others, were present on the occasion.

Senior bankers and experts were delivering lectures on Basel II, which promotes adoption of stronger risk based capital in banks to meet unforeseen losses.

Participants comprising officials of different public and private banks and financial institutions are receiving training on Basel II through trainer-participant interactions, group discussions, case studies and question-answer sessions.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited landed its 184th branch at Chachkoir, Chachkoir Bazar under Gurudaspur Upazila of Natore. On the occasion, a function was held at the branch premises. Mominul Islam Patwary, Chairman, Executive Commitee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited was present in the function as the chief guest while Abdul Kader, Executive Vice President and Head of Bogra Zone was present as special guest The function was atended, among others, by Prof. Shah Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Member, Shari'ah Council & Professor, Department of Economics, Rajshahi University, R H M Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager of Natore and Md. Mashiur Rahman (Bablu), Chairman, Gurudaspur Municipality. Md. Shamsul Hoque, Md. Abul Quasem, Shri Amal Kumar Das, Md. Mansur Rahman Amin and Md. Tibrish Khan also addressed the function among the local personalities.

On the occasion of inauguration of Chankoir Branch a seminar was held at the branch premises on the previous day. M. Fariduddin Ahmad, Executive President of the Bank addressed the Seminar as the Chief Guest and Prof. Shah Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Member, Shari'ah Council & Professor, Department of Economics, Rajshahi University addressed as the Special Guest

The function was atended among others, by Md. Abdul Hoque, Acting Principal, Nazirpur Senior Madrasah, Gurudaspur, Moulana Abdul Halim, Mashinda Shikarpara Fazil Madrasah, Gurudaspur and Prof. Mansur Ahmad, Professor, Baraigram Degree College, Barigram, Natore.

Kaliganj Branch of the bank was opened as its 185th branch at Kaliganh, Jhinaidah. On the occasion, a function was held recently at the branch premises. Baitul Amin Bhuiyan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Jhinaidah was present in the function as the chief guest and Shasanka Shekhar Bhoumik, UNO, Kaliganj Upazila was present as the special guest Presided over by Dr. A.K.M. S. Islam, Director of the Bank the function was delivered among others by Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Deputy Executive President and ABM Mufazzal Hussain, Senior Vice President & Head of Khulna Zone. Dr. Rustam AIi, Mofizur Rahman Montu, Md. Fariduzzaman, Dr. Dipak Kumar Mandal and Moulana Abul Hossain also spoke among the local personalities.

On the occasion of inauguration of Kaliganj Branch a Seminar was held at the Branch premises on the previous day. Dr. Moulana A.S.M. Toriqul Islam, Member, Shari'ah Council & Associatre Professeor of Dawa & Islamic Studies Department of Islamic University was present in the Seminar as the Chief Disscussant and A.T.M. Ashraf Ali, Managing Director of Mobarakganj Sugar Mill was present as the Special Guest

Eastern Bank Ltd. has launched a new loan product named "EBL Agreem" under its SME Banking. Small and Medium Business Enterprises shall be able to avail this short-term loan facility for meeting their immediate working capital needs.

The special futures of the new product are: It can be availed for any legal business purpose, loan facility minimum is BOT 200,000 and maximum BOT 950,000. No collateral security required. The loan tenure is 1 month to 6 months. Payment is single shot payment at maturity but interest will be realised on monthly basis and partial payment and early payment will be allowed. No additional fee required.

Any successful enterprise with minimum two years in same or relevant business can apply for loan. Business cash flow to support the proposed loan in one shot, necessary documents of business, bank account in the name of the enterprise or the entrepreneurs and personal guarantee are required.

The Chief of Army Staff General Moyeen U Ahmed, ndc, psc unveiled the two books titled "Controller General Defence Finance Procedure Manual 2007", "Audit and Accounts Practices Handbook 2006-07, Volume-II (Defence Finance) and 28 manuals prepared for the Field level offices of Defence Finance Department at the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

General Moyeen as the chief guest on the occasion said that CGDF Procedure Manual, Audit and Accounts Practices Handbook and the manuals will play a vital role in establishing the Defence Finance Department on strong base and improving the quality of professional efficiency.

He also said that the government is continuously trying to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration for stopping financial corruption and achieving financial development And in this regard Audit and Accounts Departments can play a vital role through their all out efforts and co-operation.

Along with the modernisation and increment of manpower in Defence Services of Bangladesh, modernisation and change of organogram of Defence Finance Department has become inevitable. So he emphasised on the necessity of increasing the manpower, their training and the modernisation of Defence Finance Department He also offered his whole hearted support and co-operation in this regard.

Conducted by Comptroller and Auditor General Asif Ali, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Shah M. Ziaur Rahman, Secretary Ministry of Defence Mr. Kamrul Hassan, Controller General Defence Finance (CGDF) Ahmed Ataul Hakim, high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

Pubali Bank took part in an international seminar in India. The title was 'Global Banking’ jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Indian Banks Association (IBA) in Bombay, India on September 12.

General Manager of PBL Foreign Exchange Branch M.A. Halim Chowdhury and General Manager of PBL Motijheel Corporate Branch Shafiul Alam Khan Chowdhury represented Pubali Bank Limited in this seminar. About 300 bankers from 15 countries including USA and UK participated in the seminar

Veteran bankers from home and abroad discussed on different important issues of banking sector including BASEL-II in the seminar.

Xinhua, Kathmandu

The Nepali government has come up with a stopgap measure for petrol supply. Until Sunday, public petrol pumps in the capital Kathmandu Valley will operate under a coupon system, The Himalayan Times daily reported on Friday.

According to the daily, petrol will be sold only to the government authorities, diplomatic missions, corporations and international organizations. Four-wheelers of these agencies will get up to 10 liters of petrol, while two-wheelers will get 5 liters a day, an official at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies was quoted as saying. The new provision has been introduced so that government officials and diplomats do not have to queue up in front of petrol pumps, the official said. The general public will be treated on a first-come-first- served basis. After distributing petrol to the public pumps, the remaining petrol will be distributed equally among the private ones where four-wheeler owners will get to buy petrol worth a maximum of 700 Nepali rupees (10.7 U.S. dollars) daily, while two- wheelers will be able to buy petrol worth 300 rupees (4.6 dollars). Since the stocks of kerosene and diesel are adequate to meet the demand for a couple of weeks, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has decided to stop their import for the time being and only petrol will be imported.