The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladeshis get scope to study in Scotland : Tk 7 lakh with 5.5 IELTS score required

ECONOMIC REPORTER

The SS Business Corporation Ltd and Tommy Miah.Com has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to enrol Bangladeshi students in the Edinburgh's Telford College, Scotland.

A total 20 students would get chance to study every session in one of the most prestigious government college in Scotland in Hotel Management course, said Imran Humayun Khan, PRO of Tommy Miah.Com.

"Hotel management is a rapidly growing sector across the world. It is the field, where we still have shortage of skilled people in Europe as well as in Bangladesh. In this perspective, we are offering an affordable two-years course to Bangladeshi students," he said. Khan was addressing a press conference, marking the MoU signing ceremony yesterday in the capital.

Admission eligibility for the course is, minimum IELTS score 5.5 with HSC pass from any group. Annual academic fee in the course is about Tk 7 lakh (5230 pounds), he said..

Tommy Miah.Com, a promotion partner organisation to Telford College, will enrol students from Bangladesh through the SSBC, which is education consultant, said S Talukdar, Chairman and MD of SSBCL.

"Speciality with the Telford College is, it allows students to work within Scotland or UK even after two years of their graduation. They will not be needed any additional work permits during this time," he said.

Moreover, students would also enjoy part time work during their study. This would give them a chance to earn almost half of their tuition fees every year, Talukdar added.

Pubali Bank managers’ confc held in Sylhet

The Branch Managers' conference-2008 of Sylhet Region of Pubali Bank limited held at Hotel Nirvana Inn, Sylhet recently. Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury was present as chief guest. General Manager Abdul Karim Chowdhury, regional head of Sylhet Region presided over the the conference.

In his speech chief guest Helal Ahmed Chowdhury stressed on selection of potential borrower and try to enhance bank business. He emphasised on recovery of overdue, classified and write off loan on priority basis. He advised Regional head and Branch manager to keep close vigilence so that newly disbursed loans may not become overdue or classified by intensive supervision and close monitoring of the loan. He also said Pubali Bank recently introduced "Non-Resident Credit Scheme". One can take financial help through this scheme who goes abroad for employment. He advised all to work hard to increase remittance rendering best customer services.

He underscored the need for increased utilization of the modern Information Techninlogy for qualitative improvement in the overall customer service of PBL as the bank has to operate in a highly competitive Banking sector. Managing Director impressed upon the officials to increase overall foreign exchange business in order to cope with the changes in the environment of the global banking sector. He emphasised to explore and expand foreign exchange business by maintaining regular contacts with the importers and exporters and applying modern IT solutions in order to keep the pace of advancement of business in the present competitive scenario. He advised all officers to abide by the rules and regulations of Bangladesh Bank and other regulatory bodies. He urged all Managers to achieve the target fixed for the year 2008 and has given necessary strategy and plans.

Executives of Regional Office, Branch Managers of Sylhet Region were also attended at the conference. Performance of the branches also evaluated in the meeting and necessary strategy and plans were taken to achieve the target fixed for the year 2008.

City Bank signs deal with Qatar's Alfardan Exchange

ECONOMIC REPORTER

The City Bank Limited has signed an agreement with ALFARDAN Exchange of Qatar to facilitate fast and secure remittance through AFX Fastremit, according to a report by Gulf Times of Doha, Qatar.

AFX Fastremit designed by Alfardan Exchange will enable Bangladeshi expatriates to dispatch and receive money in minutes to and from The City Bank's 80 branches spread all over the country.

The beneficiary requires only a valid identity document and the AFX Fastremit secret number to receive money. In addition to the instant money transfer, customers will also benefit from the direct crediting of money to their accounts with The City Bank Limited.

The agreement was signed between K Mahmood Sattar, managing director and CEO of The City Bank Limited and Fahad Alfardan, president Alfardan Exchange in Doha.

With the addition of The City Bank, Alfardan Exchange's partner banks in Bangladesh now number six. The other banks are Agrani Bank, Arab Bangladesh Bank, National Credit & Commerce Bank, Rupali Bank and National Bank Ltd.

Alfardan Exchange has the largest number of branches in Qatar. Besides the main branch at Alfardan Centre, it has another branch in Doha--at Najma behind Gulf Cinema, and Industrial Area at Souk Naif, Al Khor branch on Thakira Road and the newest branch in Wakra on Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Street near the Health Centre roundabout.

Muzammil Hanif, Alfardan Exchange Senior Vice President, Mashrur Arefin, Executive Vice President and Head (Retail Banking) and Mohamed Siraj Udin Mondal, Vice President and Head (Non Resident Business) at The City Bank Limited were present.

Month-long handloom fair begins in Noakhali

UNB , N oakhali

A month-long handloom fair began on the premises of local Textile Facilities Centre in Choumuhani on Friday on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.

Textile and Jute Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal inaugurated the fair organised by the Handloom Board.

During the inaugurationt the Adviser called upon the people to strengthen the economy of the country by using local handloom products.

He further said that the government has taken different initiatives to develop the handloom industry as it meets 40 percent local demand. The Adviser also assured the wavers that Bangladesh Textile Industries Corporation would supply thread to them at reasonable pnces.

Some 120 stalls have been set up in the fairt said an official release.

Premier Bank managers' meeting held

The monthly managers' meeting of The Premier Bank Limited was held at Bank's Executive Floor, Head Office on February 9. BH Haroon, Vice Chairman of the bank was present in the meeting as chief guest. BH Haroon, Vice Chairman of the bank expressed his satisfaction about the progress made by the bank. All participants were asked to work harder to bring about improvements in customer services in the coming days. Khondker Fazle Rashid, Managing Director of the bank presided the over the meeting.

The Managing Director, in his speech, urged the branch managers to fulfill the target for the year 2008. He also stressed selection of potential borrowers and recovery of overdue and write-off loan on priority basis. All executives at head office with all branch managers' and divisional heads in Head Office were also present in the meeting.

BRAC Bank signs MoU with Supermarket Owners Assoc

BRAC Bank Limited has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association.

Under the agreement, BRAC Bank will extend SME (small and medium enterprise) loans to the suppliers of supermarkets countrywide through its Supplier and Distributor Finance Unit with its unique and customised product, Super Supply.

This is for the first time in the country that a bank has come forward to serve the suppliers in a focused manner with a long-term objective to support the backward linkage industries in the country. Farzana Chowdhury, Senior Vice-President and Head of SME Banking of BRAC Bank, and Niaz Rahim, President of Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association and Managing Director of Agora, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations. Farzana Chowdhury focused on BRAC Bank's SME loan disbursement activities saying that the bank has been providing collateral-free loan facility since 2001.