The New Nation - Internet Edition

Business Desk

Emirates Airline has flown beyond a new technological frontier by turning on 76 different websites across six continents simultaneously, in a co-coordinated re-launch of its website www.emirates.com.

The new look website, providing a gateway to 76 country sites in 10 different languages came to life in an ambitious overnight launch.

Emirates.com uses the latest Internet and e-commerce technology and provides passengers with more features and options when making their travel arrangements online.

Well before passengers board an Emirates' aircraft, they can now key in their route, find out what aircraft they are flying on, what entertainment they can enjoy whilst onboard, explore virtual tours of the in-flight products and even watch trailers of Hollywood blockbusters they can expect to see during the flight.

One of the major advantages of the new site is the flight search and pricing system. Rather than just being presented with one price for a preferred time, passengers will be shown seat availability and prices for seven days either side of their requested travel date.

This will give customers more opportunities to benefit from cheaper fares that may be available.

Online customers can purchase tickets, confirm a booking, check-in online and choose their preferred seat. The booking process has been simplified, underlining the ease, flexibility and passenger-led nature of the new system. With the airline's Internet sales doubling year on year, Emirates is again moving to meet its customers' online appetite.

Ghaith AI Ghaith, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: "Emirates' Internet sales are rapidly increasing and the new website extends our global reach, giving us greater opportunities for revenue generation. Over the next five years, I anticipate that the number of new and existing customers booking flights through our website will increase dramatically.

In recreating the site, we have handed much more control to our customers and allowed them to feel the Emirates experience from their homes, offices and hotels, long before they board one of our modern aircraft."

Social Investment bank Ltd (SIBL) has donated taka one million the Chief Advisor's reliefs fund for cyclone victims of the southern belt, says a press release. Bank's Chairman Abdul Awal Patwary and Managing Director (cc) Abu Sadek Md Sohel handed the cheque to Chief Advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed in a simple ceremony held at Chief Advisor's Office in Dhaka on 12.12.2007',The bank also donated Tk. 25.00 lakh to the Chief of Army's relief fund.

Earlier, SIBL has distributed relief materials worth taka 22.00 lakh among the cyclone victims in two phases. SIBL executives, officers and employees donated one day, salary for the Cyclone -victims. Just after the hurricane havoc, SIBL teams on 20.12.2007 rushed to the coastal areas and distributed relief materials among the starving people of Jha!okathi, Borguna, Bagerhat, Potuakhali and Pirojpur. They distributed rice, pulses, salt, water, match, candle, medicines and other materials. A team led by Consultant Md. Abdul Motin rushed to the worst affected areas of Sharnonkhola, Muralganj and Chittalmari of Bagerhat and gave away relief goods to the distressed men, women and children. Another team led by EVP Sheikh Boran Ali went to Patharghata of Borguna district and distributed relief goods to the worst affected people at Taphalia, Khalipharhat, Ziar Math and Kalamegha.

The 4th edition of the Dubai International film Festival was opened with a tremendous excitement and glamour as Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney took center stage to talk about his new film Michael Clayton in which he played the title character and officially inaugurated this year's much-awaited film fest.

Later, George Clooney offered insights into his life and work in a special public session joined by film critic Sheila Whitaker.

A host of international celebrities including Sharon Stone, Michelle Yeoh, Danny Glover and Latin superstar Gloria Estafan were expected to up the glamour quotient during the eight-day fest.

Emirate sis the principal sponsor of the Dubai International Film festival. Based on the theme: Bridging Cultures and Meeting Minds-the festival has been attracting an increasingly large international and regional talent of filmmakers and industry professionals.

By bringing visitors from all over the world to celebrate cinematic excellence in Dubai, the festival's objective resonates well with Emirates' own efforts to promote Dubai as a world-class center for tourism, commerce and sports.

Dhaka Bank Limited, one of the leading private commercial banks received ICAB National Award 2006 for their published Accounts and Reports. Dhaka Bank Limited secured 3rd prize in the financial sector for best-published account and reports.

Managing Director of Dhaka Bank Limited Shahed Noman received the award from Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam, Adviser in-charge of Ministry of Commerce, Finance, Planning, Posts and Telecommunication, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh at 7th ICAB National Awards 2007 Ceremony organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Friday, December 08, 2007.

A total of 13 financial, non-financial and non-government organisations received the awards this year.