The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh is a leader of Micro-credit program in the world. Bangladesh is a poor and small country but there are many opportunities and probabilities for the development of this county. It is because Bangladeshi manpower is very potential, energetic and popular in the World. There are many reasons for this matter. Political and economical crises of Bangladesh are prime factors for the development in this country.

Poultry sector of Bangladesh is very important for reduction of poverty from our country and to create employment opportunity for unemployed people. Many persons and workers are directly involved for their earning with this industry. Some days ago, this industry had fallen fully in danger position by the attack of Bird-Flu diseases. All the businessmen related with this industry, however, overcame that problem very successfully. Actually, for this poor country, it was one kind of great disaster. At that moment, Bangladesh Government supported the sufferers by bank loan. But the amount was not enough. So, a large number of Micro-finance Institutions (MFI) helping the country to get rid of poverty alleviation and the development of all essential sectors, assured of financial assistance to the men in poultry industry. Big MFIs like ASA, BRAC, Grameen Bank etc. directly participate in the development of this sector by their micro finance programme. Specially, ASA's micro-finance programme in this industry is remarkable.

ASA selected the poultry sector for giving service by their SEL loan programme for long considering its viability. The number of the ASA's borrowers is 78 lac in Bangladesh. About 95 percent poultry farms in Bangladesh are benefited by ASA's SEL loan program. A few cases of successful.

Md. IIias Hossan, son of Md. Nessar Uddin, is a very active and energetic young man living in Lavrapara of Vulta Union under Rupganj Thana of Narayanganj District. The name of his poultry Farm is 'Shah Poultry'. He made a revolution on poultry sector in Bangladesh. Traditionally their business was Jamdani Shari. After the death of his father, he decided to change traditional business for poultry farm on his own land. He started his business wth 2000 broilers and profited taka 45000 every month. To enlarge the farm, he received taka 50,000 from ASA under SEL loan scheme. In 2006, he was sanctioned taka two hundred thousand. Now the total number of his poultry farm is 4. There are 6000 fowls in his four farms. On an average, Ilias Hossain get 90 pc eggs, selling at the rate of Tk 400 per 100. He said, maximum time all buyers purchase eggs from his farms directly. He purchases the required 14 bag of poultry food every day.

There are 4 workers serving always in his farms. He wants to expand his projects largely with ASA's financial assistance. District Manager of ASA Narayanganj Md. Mahbubul Alam says, ASA Narayanganj district has been rendering service to poultry farms by their SEL loan program through 67 Branches. Zonal Manager of Narayanganj Md. Mahmuda Qadir Talukder says, ASA Narayanganj district disbursed so far Tk. 500 crore loan on all products. This is the biggest loan amount in this district for any MFI and any government financial institution.

[Md. Mahbubur Rahman Bulbul, ASA]

M/s Merim Co. Ltd. is about to expand their project in Chittagong Export Processing Zone.

The 100 foreign owned company will enhance their production space with additional investment of US$ 5.5 million. This company will also create new job opportunity for additional 300 Bangladeshi nationals. By this time, 1037 Bangladeshis including 2 foreign nationals are already working in this unit.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and M/s. Merim Ltd. in BEPZA Complex, Dhaka on 29-11-2007. Prasanta Barua, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Sayedul Islam, General Manager of M/s. Mrim Co. Ltd. have signed the lease agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. Among others, Brig. General Ashraf Abdulla Yussuf, Executive Chairman of BEPZA, Member (Engineering) Md. Farhad Uddin, General Manager (Investment Promotion) AZM Azizur Rahman, Manager (Industrial Relations) Md. Abdus Sobhan and Assistant Manager (Public Relations) Khadiza Parvin of BEPZA were also present in the signing ceremony.

Grameenphone Ltd. has completed the first phase of its relief activities in the cyclone-affected areas over the last week.

In coordination with local government agencies and its NGO partners, Grameenphone distributed relief materials including food and other essential items and set up medical camps in eight worst-affected districts in Barisal, Khulna and Dhaka Divisions. Starting from November 20th, relief materials and medicines were distributed in the affected areas of Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalokhati, Bagerhat, Madaripur, Gopalganj and Shariatpur districts.

A total 10,000 family packs, each containing 4 kg rice, 1 kg dal, 1 kg salt, 2 kg wheat/flour, ½ liter oil, 6 candles, 1 tin/carton biscuits, and 1 kg beaten rice have already been distributed. In addition, another 1,000 family packs will be distributed by the end of this week in Dublarchar of Khulna Division.

Ten medical camps, including three floating ones, were set up in the affected areas and about 7,000 patients were given medical assistance with free prescription and medication in the first phase of relief efforts.

Nearly 100 Grameenphone employees volunteered to participate in the relief distribution efforts working in close collaboration with members of the Joint Forces, local government authorities and different NGO partners of Grameenphone.

Grameenphone had previously made a contribution of Tk. 1 crore to the Chief Adviser's relief fund to provide relief for the cyclone-affected people. In addition, Telenor, the majority shareholder of Grameenphone, had donated another Tk. 2.3 crore and the GP employees contributed their one-day's salary towards the relief effort.

The company also participated in the joint SMS donation campaign launched in cooperation with other mobile operators, where each SMS by the subscribers would contribute BDT 10 towards the relief effort. The joint SMS campaign will continue till November 30th and the entire amount collected will be handed to the Chief Adviser's relief and rehabilitation Fund.

UNB, Dhaka

Citi Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Citigroup, has donated US$ 50,000, equivalent to around Taka 34 lakh, in support of the cyclone victims of the coastal areas of the country.

This fund will be used by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) for their relief efforts towards the Sidr victims.

As yet another avenue to mobilize global support, Citibank N.A. Bangladesh has opened an account in the name of Chief Advisor's Relief Fund, where people from all around the world can send their contributions for the cyclone-affected people.

Besides, the employees of Citibank have made monetary contribution, which is matched equally by Citibank, to donate Tk one Million to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund.

Citibank employees have also formed a volunteer team, which will work at the cyclone-affected areas for smooth distribution of all collections, said a press release.

Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited (PILIL) organised National Seminar-2007 and the 7th Annual Conference at BIAM auditorium and Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center on the 26th & 28th November respectively..

Principal Sayeed Kamaluddin Zafri, Chairman of company's Shariah Executive Committee presided over the seminar while Justice M. A Rouf, former Chief Election Commissioner and Member of company's Shariah Council was the present as the chief guest. The key-note paper titled 'The problems & prospects of Islamic Jiban Bima in Bangladeshi context was followed by a series of discussions over it. The paper was presented by. M. Muzahidul Islam, Chairman, Banking Department, Dhaka University. Kazi Mohd. Mortuza Ali, Managing. Director of PILIL explained the system of Islami Insurance. Each and every discussant emphasised upon the need of framing out the Islami Insurance Act by the concerned ministry .

The 7th Annual Conferencewith company's new shareholders took place in the Bangla-China Frienship Conference Center Hall on 28th November with Manzoor ul Karim, former Secretary and Chairman of the company in the chair. On behalf of the Chairman, the annual general report was read out by Habibur Rahman, Company Secretary due to illness of the chairman.

On this occasion, some of the shareholders took part in the discussions, demanding dividend of the shareholders as soon as possible. Company's most of the Directors including Adviser of the company M.A Khaleq, M.A. Wahhab, Chairman, EC., were present in the function. Kazi Mohd. Mortuza AIi, M.D. and Principal Sayeed Kamaluddin Zafri, Chairman of the company's Shariah Executive Committee answered the different questions and queries raised by some of the shareholders.

The function received a soaring attraction with so many relative questions and answers. The function was conducted by Habibur Rahman, Secretary of the company.

A term loan agreement was signed between Pubali Bank Limited and Oman Bangladesh Leasing & Finance Limited at Pubali Bank Head Office. Dipak Kumar Chakraborty, General Manager, Principal Branch of Pubali Bank Limited and Hasan Iqbal, Managing Director of Oman Bangladesh Leasing and Finance Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations in a simple ceremony. Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of Pubali Bank Limited was present on this occasion.

Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of Pubali Bank Ltd. in his short speech said that PBL is extending bulk loan to NBFl's at a competitive interest rate.

General Manager of Credit Division of Pubali Bank Limited Mizanur Rahman Molla, Vice President of Oman Bangladesh Leasing & Finance Limited Md. Shariful Alam and other officials of both organisations were also present at the agreement signing ceremony.

The Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Gazipur organised a five-day short course and workshop concluding on the 28th November. The title of the workshop was 'Development of indigenous technological capability in Medical Electronics'. Four local and one UK experts delivered lectures to 30 participants coming from six OIC countries besides the host country, and the workshop was conducted on the design and fabrication of a computerized ECG/EMG equipment, using several of those items designed and made by local experts. Some of the participants took the equipment back home for spreading the technology. The closing ceremony held on 28th November was presided over by Professor Dr. M Fazli Ilahi, Vice Chancellor of IUT. Ambassador of Turkey, Ferit Ergin gave away certificates as the chief guest. Dr. June Rollinson, Director, British Council, Dhaka, was present as special guest.

Designed for U.S. State and Local Government sectors, Oracle announced the availability of Oracle Business Accelerators for the Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12, says a press release.

With this announcement, Oracle is enabling partners to efficiently and cost-effectively designs and configures Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 implementations that address the unique challenges and requirements facing state and local government agencies today.

Oracle Business Accelerators provide tools, wizards and workflows, specific to industries and product lines, which give Oracle partners the ability to perform rapid, best-practice implementations. The new Oracle Business Accelerators offer 42 business flows across 36 applications within the Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12. Partners can leverage these online, hosted tools to complete implementations that include specific functionality for the public sector in the areas of financial management, human resources, supply chain. service delivery and maintenance and project management.

"We're excited about the new Oracle Business Accelerators for the latest release of the Oracle E-Business Suite: said Solbourne Director of Consulting, Joe Kuntner. "Our public sector customer have gained significant value from solutions created using Oracle Accelerators and we look forward to leveraging this new functionality to help our state and local customers improve performance and operational efficiency'"' he added.