The New Nation - Internet Edition

HBFC makes Tk 135cr profit

BUSINESS REPORT

The 305th meeting of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) was held at its Head Office in the city recently.

The Board approved the External Audit Report of the corporation for the fiscal 2006-2007.

The corporation earned a net profit of Tk 135.36 crore in the fiscal 2006-2007 which is more than Tk 11.26 crore compared with the previous fiscal year. The status of loan recovery, particularly recovery from classified loan have improved significantly.

The present rate of classified loan has come down to 17.62 per cent. In the FY 2006-2007, the corporation has maintained the required provision. The corporation has paid an amount of Tk 43.71 crore as income tax for the FY 2006-2007.

In the FY 2006-2007 total assets of the corporation has increased to Tk 3055.64 crores. Revenue income has increased by 3.72 per cent and revenue expenditure has decreased by 1.12 per cent in the same fiscal year.

Swiss ambassador visits Holcim's Khulna office

BUSINESS REPORT

Dr Dora Rapold, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, has recently visited Holcim's Khulna office at Sonadanga in Khulna. Dr. Dora Rapold was traveling to northwestern side of country like Morelganj, Shoronkhola, Sundarbans and adjoining areas to see herself post-relief condition that was made for Sidr affected people of that area.

Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) had organized this relief operation immediately after cyclone Sidr hit this area.

Niaz Uddin Mahmood, Vice President--Business Development of Holcim (Bangladesh) Ltd, greeted the ambassador with floral wreath on her arrival. Other high officials of Holcim were also present at time.

It may be mentioned that Holcim (Bangladesh) Ltd (HBL), a group company of Holcim Ltd, Switzerland, stepped into Bangladesh in 2000 by acquiring the then Hyundai Cement. Holcim Ltd, Switzerland, parent company of HBL, is one of the world's leading suppliers of cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete and asphalt. The group holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents including Bangladesh. Worldwide Holcim employs some of 90,000 people and fosters the concept of being development partner wherever it operates its business.

Dr Dora expressed her great satisfaction over the continuous success of Swiss company Holcim (Bangladesh) Ltd and wished further improvement of this company.

Janata Bank's Investment Increase Month begins: CEO calls to raise investment by identifying potential clients

BUSINESS REPORT

Janata Bank Limited has started 'Investment Increase Month' from April 1 to April 30. SM Aminur Rahman CEO/MD inaugurated the programme at the bank's 48, Motijheel Corporate Branch in the city.

Rahman advised all to increase the flow of investment by identifying the potential clients and ensure better customer service. DMD Md. Mizanur Rahman, and General Managers Md. Shariful Moslemin Khan, A K M Rashiduzzaman, Shihabuddin Md. Shahjahan, M Serajul Islam and GM Baqui Billah and other executives and clients were present on the occasion.

Foundation-stone of Monir Ahmed Academy's hostel laid in Sylhet

Monir Ahmed Academy (a private cadet college) at Turuk-khola in Sylhet has been playing a pivotal role for expanding education in the area for a long time. Hafiz Ahmed Majumder, Chairman, Board of Directors of Pubali Bank Limited laid the foundation-stone of a hostel which will be able to accommodate 200 students.

Founder of Monir Ahmed Academy and Director of PBL Moniruddin Ahmed was present at the function.

Directors of Pubali Bank Giasuddin Ahmed, Ahmed Shafi Chowdhury, Fahim Ahmed Faruk Chowdhury, M Faizur Rahman, Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of Metropolitan University Kabir Chowdhury, former MP Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of Green Delta Insurance Nasir A Chowdhury, Principal of Scholar Homes Brig (Rtd) Jubaier Siddique and elites were also present at the function.

Hafiz Ahmed Majumder hailed the activities of Monir Ahmed Academy for its role to build educated and honest people. He also praised Moniruddin Ahmed for playing a role in social upliftment.

Standard Bank holds board meeting

BUSINESS REPORT

The 123rd Board Meeting of Standard Bank Ltd was held on March 20 in the Board Room of Head Office of the bank.

Chairman of the Board of Directors Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed presided over the meeting.

It was attended by Vice-Chairman Alhaj Mohammad Shamsul Alam, Directors Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury, Abdul Ahad, Alhaj Nurul Haque Sowdagor and Md Ziaul Haque Khondker.

Among others, Managing Director Mosharraf Hossain, DMD SA Farooqui and EVP and Board Secretary AFM Nizamul Islam Chowdhury were also present in the meeting.

The board took various important decisions regarding bank's investment policy in the field of trade, commerce and industries and approved proposals received from different branches in respect of financing of working capital for industries and other import, export and commercial trading businesses.

Proshika lays foundation stone of housing project for urban poor

Proshika, one of the largest NGOs in the country, laid the foundation-stone for a housing project for the urban poor on Monday at Goran Chatbari near the Ashulia embankment at Mirpur in the city, says a press release.

Proshika plans to build a six-storey building on a three-bigha private plot. The initiative has been taken by Proshika to rehabilitate 350 disadvantaged slum families of the capital city.

Eminent jurist Dr. Kamal Hossain attended the foundation laying ceremony as the chief guest. Former caretaker government adviser and 'Ain O Salish Kendra' executive director Advocate Sultana Kamal and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) executive director Professor Mustafizur Rahman spoke as special guests at the foundation laying function. Chaired by Proshika chairman Dr Qazi Faruque Ahmed, Proshika vice chairman Mahbubul Karim and chief executive Gias Uddin Pathan also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Kamal described it 'an epoch-making' initiative, not taken in the last 37 years. Sultana Kamal said the contribution of the slum dwellers to the national economy was immense and called for an awareness of their basic needs. Prof Mustafizur Rahman said that macroeconomic development of the country was impossible without the improvement of the slum dwellers, who constitute about 38 per cent of the population, living only on five per cent of the country's total land. Dr Qazi Faruque Ahmed said that side by side with the government, the affluent section of people should come forward to ensure the basic needs of slum dwellers.

Potato, rice combination makes health and economic sense

Rice is a staple that mainly supply carbohydrates in our diet. Milled rice has a high glycemic index and a poor source of quality nutrients such as essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Potatoes on the other-hand are nutritionally much superior to Rice. It contains nutritionally important vitamins, minerals and some important essential amino acids making it's protein higher in quality compare to rice. Usually a medium potato (150g/5.3 oz) with the skin provides 27 mg vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value (DV), 620 mg of potassium (18% of DV), 0.2 mg vitamin B6 (10% of DV) and trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. The fiber contents of a potato is almost equals to many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals. Fibers are an important component for heart-wise diet. In addition to vitamins, minerals and fiber, potatoes also contain many phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols which were shown to have anti-cancer properties. Since potatoes are a good source of potassium with a low sodium content, it is implicated in reducing the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. The price of Rice is skyrocketing in the market and it is very difficult for average consumer to buy good quality Rice. This year Bangladesh had a bumper potato crop. Rice being nutritionally poor compare to Potato it is time for the nutritionist community of Bangladesh to popularize potato for better nutrition and for better economic sense. Potato is used mainly in making curry, "bhorta" and lately for making fries. Nutritionist should come up with new ideas of recepies to incorporate potato in popular local dishes for general populations. One way potato consumption could be increased by reconstituting the popular Bengali dish "KICHURI" with 40% rice, 50% potato, 5% dal, some bits and pieces of fish or chicken with some flavoring veggies.