The New Nation - Internet Edition

Grameen Bank's loan recovery rate 98 pc

Staff Reporter

Grameen Bank's loan recovery rate is 98.2 percent, according to a report released by the bank. The bank disbursed till date (cumulative) taka 3,56,798.22 million and recovered (cumulative) taka 3,20,461.93 million leaving an outstanding of taka 36,336.29 million only as on December 31, 2007.

In the month of December last, a total amount of taka 3,865.04 million were disbursed and taka 3,351.60 million were realized. The bank bears the burden of an overdue loan of taka 1023.29 million only. If a borrower misses 10 consecutive installments, the entire outstanding amount becomes overdue.

The report claims that Grameen Bank is not like other NGOs. It takes special care of the loan disbursed and guard against misuse and divertion of fund. According to rules, 50 pc provisions are made against the outstanding amount of the flexible loans of less than two years, 100 pc provisions are made in case of loan outstanding for two years and more. And that portions of the flexible loans which complete third year are written off exactly on the date following their completion.

At present the total deposit stands at taka 51,918.71 million and its ratio with the outstanding loan amount is 143:1 as on the last date of the last year.

There are 86,017 beggars' accounts disbursed (cumulative) taka 105.51 million. The success of the said bank is that it had financed to build 6,50,839 houses and installed 2,95,444 village phones.

A unique characteristics is higher education loan under which 20,886 male and female students have so far availed a loan of taka 621.22 million. The bank granted scholarships to 51,726 male and female students for an amount of taka 56.38 million.

The bank operates in 80,678 villages through its 2,481 branches (all computerised).

PHC holding seminars on Pak-Bangla trade opportunities

Pakistan High Commission (PHC), Dhaka is holding two seminars on Bangladesh-Pakistan Trade Opportunities Under SAFTA as per following schedule:

Program in Dhaka: Jointly with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka on the 26th January 2008, Saturday. from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the FBCCI Conference Room, Federation Bhaban (8th Floor), 60 Motijheel CA, Dhaka. The programme will be chaired in Dhaka by Syed Manzur Elahi, Administrator, FBCCI and the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Alamgir Babar will be the special guest. Two. Key-Note Speakers will address the seminar: Dr. Safdar A Sohail, Director General, Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP), Islamabad on "Realising the Trade Potential between Bangladesh and Pakistan under SAFTA". while Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan Joint Chief, Tariff Commission of Bangladesh, from Bangladesh side.

Programme in Chittagong: Jointly with Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry on the 28th of January 2008 at Chittagong Chamber The Seminar will be chaired by Mb. Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, President Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry who will also be the keynote speaker, while Dr. Safdar A Sohail. Director General. Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP). Islamabad will make the same presentation.

Discussants from trade related organisations will discuss the trade opportunities under the concessions available for the export surpluses of the two countries.

The 14th SAARC Summit concluded on the 5th of April 2007 in New Delhi. Many decisions were made and opportunities under SAFTA have increased manifold. Awareness of these opportunities among the business community is critical in order to fully benefit from Safta.

Thus to enhance the vision of the stake holders and for capacity building of the importers exporters of both the countries, the two seminars are being organised by the Pakistan High Commission in collaboration with the trade bodies of Bangladesh where views of the public sector organisations like Ministries of Commerce of Bangladesh and Pakistan, Sariff Commission, NBR, EPB Dhaka, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and embodies could be shared with the participants to chart a way forward.

Topics to be covered in the seminars include Trade lists, ROO, Sensitive lists and overall Safta arrangements. Participants are importers. exporters, members of trade bodies, consultants, media, Dhaka & Chittagong Universities and other public sector organisations. Some members of business community of Pakistan who are present in Dhaka for the DITF 2008 have also been invited to share their views about the tradable commodities between the two countries. Bilateral trade with Bangladesh can be enhanced to $1 billion as envisaged by JEC in 2005 through full realization of the potential for trade under SAFTA.

Unilever helps to rehabilitate the Sidr victims

Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) has taken up a project to rebuild the SIDR affected village of Char Nazir under the Golachipa Thana. As part of this project, housing will be built far approximately 75 families.

Additionally a caw are goat will also, be provided to them for income generation. The total cost this project is estimated to be Tk 8o lakh. Other initiatives under this project include the installation of deep tube- wells and the rebuilding of retail outlets in the village. UBL will work in c1ase callabaratian with the Bangladesh Army to, make this project happen.

The managers of UBL have also, donated an additional Tk 3.5 Lakh from their salary -- the proceeds of which will go towards funding this initiative.

In another initiative, Unilever Managers distributed about Tk 1.5 Lakh worth of relief to, SIDR victims.

The distribution was done in Patharghata in Barguna District, Relief material included lanterns, comman utensils like bowls, gas lighters and biscuits and clothing such as shawls and sweaters.

A further Tk 24 Lakh has also, been distributed among the distributors' staffs who, were affected by the cyclone and another Tk 25 Lakh has been donated to the British Business Group (BBG) far rebuilding a school in Majher Char.

Anyadin Group signs deal with GP

Grameenphone Business Solutions is an integrated telecommunications service specially designed for the business entities of Bangladesh, providing customised telecommunications solutions through a consultative approach, tailored to the needs of individual businesses.

Anyadin Group is a reputed publishing House established in 1984 by Mazharul Islam, a reputed business personality of the country. Anyadin Group has several sister concerns in Bangladesh, such as Anyadin, a popular fortnightly, Anyamela, a popular fashion house, and Anyadin Production House, among others.

Grameenphone Business Solutions, comprising of modern mobile telecommunications services for any business needs, provides voice, text messaging and mobile data and internet services.

Also on offer is a complete Mobile-Office solution, including mobile email, mobile highspeed data access, internet access, mobile fax, and more, providing the freedom to work from anywhere within Grameenphone's wide network coverage.

According to the agreement, Anyadin Group is being provided complete communications solutions tailored to its needs, including voice, data and other services. Anyadin Group will use the services to further improve communication amongst its different businesses, at an affordable cost.

The agreement was signed by Mazharul Islam, CEO, Anyadin Group, and Khandaker Omar Farhan, Deputy General Manager, Sales Division, Grameenphone, on behalf of their respective organisations.

Workshop on access to natural resources to be held in Dhaka

A Researchers’ Planning Workshop on 'Knowledge Generation and Policy Dialogue on Access to Land and other Natural Resources by the Rural poor in four Asian Countries' will be held at the CIRDAP Head quarters from 28-30 January 2008

As a follow-up activity of the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) declaration, the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) is going to implement a project titled 'Knowledge Generation and Policy Dialogue on Access to Land and Other Natural Resources by the rural poor in four Asian Countries'. The project which will be handled by the Research Division of CIRDAP, will be funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Research (IFAD).

The Researcher's Planning Workshop to initiate the project will be held on 28-30 January 2008. It will be a three days long meeting to finalize the outlines for country studies. Mr. Md. Mosleh Uddin, Secretary in Charge, Ministry of Land, Government of Bangladesh will be the Chief Guest at the Inaugural session. Dr. Durga P. Paudyal, Director General, CIRDAP and Dr. Nasreen Khundker, Director, Research, CIRDAP and Project Director will also address the Inaugural session.

The research project will be implemented in four important countries of the Asia-Pacific region, i.e. Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines. This project will be the first follow-up activity of the ICARRD declaration. The findings of the research will benefit policy makers throughout the Asia-Pacific region. International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD), held in Brazil in 2006, recalled the outcomes of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (WCARRD), held in 1979, and reaffirmed that wider, secure and sustainable access to land, water and other natural resources related to rural people's livelihoods, especially that of women, indigenous, marginalized and vulnerable groups, is essential to eradicate hunger and poverty. This principle was enshrined in the Peasant Charter constituted in 1979. The study will thus be an important contribution to understanding the constraints and opportunities of the rural poor's access to land.

Two technical sessions will be held in this meeting. Four country presentations will be made in the first technical session by the eminent researchers on land related issues. The researchers are Dr. Selim Raihan, Assistant Professor of Economics of Dhaka University, Dr. Yulfita Raharjo, Ex-Senior Researcher of the Centre for Population Studies, Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), Dr. Jagannath Adhikari, Program Coordinator (Development Studies) of Nepal Development Research Institute and Mr. Carlos B. O. A. Santos, Research Fellow of the Asia Pacific Policy Centre of the Philippines. The study outlines for each country will be finalized in the second technical session with inputs from the Project Director, Dr Nasreen Khundker, Research Director (CIRDAP), Mr. Wim Polman, representative from FAO and Ms. Susana Evangelista-Leones, Chairman, Executive Committee, CIRDAP and representative from the International Land Coalition (ILC). The Researchers' Planning Workshop will end on 30 January, 2008.

Japanese Professor calls on DU VC

Ms. Eri Habu, Associate Professor of Graduate School of Ecnomics, Department of Law and Economics, Yamaguchi University, Japan called on Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. SMA Faiz on January 23, 2008 in the latter's office of the university.

Treasurer of Dhaka University Professor Syed Abul Kalam Azad was present on this occasion.

During the meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interests specially the possibilities of establishing exchange and collaborative programmes between Dhaka University Law and Public Administration Departments and Yamaguchi University, Japan.

Prof. SMA Faiz thanked Ms. Eri Habu for her visit to Dhaka University and interest in its academic and research activities.

Gomez elevated as GM at Radissopn Water Garden Hotel

Andre Alex Gomez has been promoted as the General Manager (GM) of Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka effective from December 01, 2007. Andre has been in Dhaka for the last 18 months, initially as Executive Assistant Manager (EAM) and Director of Food & Beverage and later on became General Manager - In-Charge in mid 2007. He previously held the position of EAM and General Manager In-Charge of Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney, one of the flagship hotels of Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific the parent company of Radisson Hotels and Resorts.

Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka is part of a major expansion programme being undertaken across Asiapacific by US based Carlson Hotels Worldwide. The hotel is owned by Sena Kalyan Hotel Developments Limited (A local joint venture of Sena Kalyan Sangstha and Army Welfare Trust).

The announcement came on 21th January, 2008 at the Contract Signing Ceremony with Sena Hotel Developments Limited, the owning company of Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka.

City Bank, PLIL sign business deal

The City Bank Limited recently signed an agreement with Pragati Life Insurance Ltd. at a simple ceremony held at the bank premises. Under the agreement, the customers of the monthly deposit product called 'City Projonmo will enjoy full insurance cover after undergoing a free medical up.

To elaborate, in the event of the death of parent/ guardian of the child in whose name City Projonmo account is maintained, the child will receive up to Tk. 59 lacks from insurance company.

The deal was signed by Shefaque Ahmed, Md & Actuary of Pragati Life Insurance Ltd. and Sohail R.K. Hussain, DMD (Business), of City Bank.

New executive chairman of BARC

Md. Abdur Razzaque has joined Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) as Executive Chairman of recently. Dr. Razzaque started his career as an Assistant Cane Agronomist in Sugarcane Research Institute in 1974.

He served as Research Manager in many important positions. He was also the Director, Agricultural Information Centre, BARC and concurrently held the position of the Director of SAARC Agricultural Information Centre.

Prior to his joining as Executive Chairman Dr. Razzaque served as Member Director (Crops) for 8 years in BARC. He has 45 scientific articles on various topics on agriculture published in national and international journals.

Premier Bank holds its board meeting

The 56th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Premier Bank Limited; was on Tuesday (January 22, 2008) at its Head Office, Banani, Dhaka. B.H Haroon, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Premier Bank Limited presided over the meeting.

Amon others Directors Nurul Amin, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Shafiqur Rahman, Shaila Shelly Khan, Md. Lutfur Rahman, Directors (alternate) A.H.M Ferdous, Aminul Islam Majid along with Managing Director of the Bank Khondker Fazle Rashid, Observer from Bangladesh Bank Ashoke Bandhu Das and Board Secretary Syed Ahsan Habib were also present In the meeting.

The board expressed entire satisfaction over the last year performance of the bank in respect of profit & other key factors and evaluated the performance of the bank for the year-2007 and expressed it's satisfaction over the success and progress achieved so far, approved, Annual business plan for the current year took some important business decisions. The meeting also reviewed some important issues & their implementation in due course.