The New Nation - Internet Edition

arment accessories manufacturing industry in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone. This 100 per cent foreign owned company will invest Tk 155 crore and will produce

Bangladesh's leading PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) operator RanksTel has chosen Genuity Systems gPlex (www.gplex.us) call centre solution for its customer care service.

The gPlex 50-seat call centre was inaugurated Mrs. Zakia Rouf Chowdhury, Vice-Chairperson of RanksTel at a simple ceremony on Sunday. The function was attended among others by RanksTel CEO M.A. Rouf Chowdhury, while Director Corporate Affairs Anwar Hossain, Finance Director Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Head of Operation Masrur Newaz Waiz, A K M Shamsuddin, CTO and M. Anis Rahman, CEO of Genuity Systems Ltd.

The state-of-the-art and competitively priced gPlex call centre solution would help RanksTel to provide customers with better service in a more efficient way.

"We are very happy to have gPlex solution for better customer care because we care more for customer satisfaction," RanksTel CEO M.A. Rouf Chowdhury says.

M. Anis Rahman, CEO of Genuity Systems Ltd. says: "We are delighted to be partner with RanksTel in providing them gPlex call centre solution. This deal marks the first step for Bangladeshi private sector to experience in providing call centre solution.

Anis said the solution designed in line with BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) call centre policy would definitely help Bangladesh's call centre operators.

He said the solution bundles with local support which is very important for local entrepreneurs preferring the solution.

BP's new lubricant brand hits Bangladesh market

BUSINESS REPORT

The multinational energy company BP launched its advanced passenger car lubricant 'Visco 3000' in Bangladesh market on Tuesday.

'This new product will keep engines of vehicles up to 30 per cent clean and fight all types of dirt-varnish, carbon, even deadly sludge in vital oil ways, which will help save fuel and run engine longer,' said MA Wadud Khan, Managing Director of Meghna Petroleum, while launching the Visco 3000 at a press conference in the city.

It has been retailing lubricants in Bangladesh through the Meghna Petroleum since 1985. BP enjoys a big share of the Bangladesh lubricant market and its brands are among the fastest growing lubricant items in Bangladesh.

'Meghna is proud to be associated with BP and would like to offer the best quality internationally-recognised BP products to Bangladeshi consumers.

Visco 3000 is available in all Meghna filling stations and key high-street lubricant outlets across Bangladesh,' he added.

BP Regional General Manager Sujit Sen said: 'We've have launched Visco 3,000 with clean guard technology keeping in mind the increase in use of it in new generation cars in Bangladesh.

BP's Visco 3000 is a very popular brand in Europe and Middle East and this is currently imported from abroad.'

Soren Malekar, Vice President of IGSC, BP Lubricants, said, 'BP is keen to work closely with Meghna Petroleum Limited and offer world class lubricants to Bangladeshi consumers.'

Australian High Commission greets Bengali New Year by donating to two local NGOs

Wishing the two organisations a hearty Shubho Nabobarsho, the Australian High Commissioner, Douglas Foskett, handed over cheques totalling Taka 13 lakh to the Society for Peoples' Actions in Change and Equity (SPACE) and PARTNER.

The two NGOs are working towards the welfare of the poor and distressed in Bangladesh and the funding was made as part of the High Commission's Direct Aid Programme.

Foskett said he was delighted to start this Bengali New year by extending Australia's support to those who need it and hoped it would contribute to a better and brighter year ahead for the beneficiaries.

In Manikgonj district, SPACE will build 60 EcoSan toilets, part of an innovative sanitation system that is sustainable, cost effective, and environment friendly. EcoSan toilets can also be used to produce organic fertilizers. SPACE will provide the owners of the installed toilets training on proper utilization, maintenance, and management of ecological sanitation.

PARTNER, on the other hand, will provide necessary prenatal and antenatal care to 50 pregnant Shaotal women and their children, as well as all immunization, vitamin, and nutritional support with the DAP fund. The NGO will also ensure safe water supply for the community and organise health camps to provide basic medical checkups and treatments of 344 Shaotal families that are covered by the NGO.

Md Azahar Ali Pramanik, Executive Director of SPACE and Md Abdus Sobhan Meah, Executive Director of PARTNER received the cheques from Mr Foskett on April 14, 2008.

StanChart welcomes Pahela Boishakh

BUSINESS REPORT

Standard Chartered celebrated the end of 1414 (Chaitra Shankranti) and brought in the advent of 1415 with an exclusive musical presentation on April 13 last at the Grand Ball Room, Hotel Radisson.

The programme was titled 'Boishakher Madol Diney' with performances from Mita Huq, Syed Abdul Hadi, Fahmida Nabi and Konakchapa. Dr Anissuzzaman also provided expert commentary as the compere.

The program was attended by senior officials of Bangladesh Bank, ambassadors, secretaries of different ministries, prominent business personalities and city elites followed by dinner with traditional Bengali food and drinks.

Osman Morad, CEO, and Ahmed Ali Shah, Managing Director, Origination and Client Coverage of Standard Chartered Bank also spoke on the occasion reiterating Standard Chartered's commitment and confidence towards Bangladesh, partnerships with the community and people.

With a presence in Bangladesh for over 100 years, Standard Chartered Bank understands and respects its culture and heritage; this musical presentation to welcome Pohela Boishakh was a reflection of that and their commitment to the communities they operate in.

India-HK jt venture to invest Tk 155cr in Adamjee EPZ BUSINESS REPORT An Indian-Hong Kong joint venture foreign company in the name & style M/s. Cosmopolitan Industries (Pvt) Limit

BUSINESS REPORT

An Indian-Hong Kong joint venture foreign company in the name & style M/s. Cosmopolitan Industries (Pvt) Limited is going to set up a garment accessories manufacturing industry in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone.

This 100 per cent foreign owned company will invest Tk 155 crore and will produce of garments items. The company will create employment opportunity for 1096 Bangladeshi and 16 foreign nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and the Messrs Cosmopolitan Industries (Pvt) Limited in BEPZA Complex, Dhaka on Wednesday.

General Manager (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Managing Director of Messrs Cosmopolitan Industries (Pvt) limited have signed the lease agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

The Executive Chairman of BEPZA and other officials were present on the occasion.

RanksTel operates for gPlex call centre solution

BP's new lubricant brand hits Bangladesh market

Australian High Commission greets Bengali New Year by donating to two local NGOs

StanChart welcomes Pahela Boishakh

Delta Life Insurance earns Tk 341cr premium income

BUSINESS REPORT

Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd earned total premium of more than Tk 341 crore in 2007 as disclosed in its annual conference for the year 2007 held on April 6-7 at Cox's Bazar.

The annual conference of company held over two days-the first day on Ordinary Life and the next day on Gono-Grameen (Micro-insurance) portfolio of the company at Hotel Sea Palace at Parjatan city of Cox's Bazar. It was inaugurated by Chairman, Board of Directors of the company Syed Moazzem Hussain as the chief guest and presided over by Managing Director Das Deba Prashad.

Inaugurating the Ordinary Life Conference, Syed Moazzem Hussain paid rich tributes to the memory of Late Shafat Ahmed Chaudhuri, founder Chairman and Managing Director of the company and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul.

He conveyed greetings to all the sales workers and officers from all over the country who were qualified to attend the conference and praised them highly for their outstanding achievement.

The chairman advised all the members of Delta family to work relentlessly for maintaining a healthy growth in business and the lead position in the future years.

He remarked that the more insurance sector is developed: the better will be the economic health of the country.

He also mentioned that in India insurance sector accounts for nearly 5 per cent of national GDP while that rate is less than 1 per cent in Bangladesh.

He called everyone to come forward and contribute to the advancement of insurance sector in Bangladesh.

In his speech, Das Deba Prashad discussed the business operations of the previous year and outlined the future action plan for implementation through application of modem techniques to make the current year a successful one.

ABM Saiful Haque, Deputy Managing Director in his welcome speech praised all the members of the Delta Family for their untiring efforts. He exhorted upon them to work still harder to overcome the future challenges.

In his address in the Gono-Grameen Bima Conference, Syed Moazzem Hussain, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company said that Gono-Grameen Bima achieved name and fame beyond the geographical borders of the country by creating a new era in insurance sector aimed at helping the poor people in times of distress and thus help in economic development of the country in a broader sense.

Delta Life takes pride to be the pioneer in introducing micro-insurance business. He advised the development personnel of this Gono-Grameen Bima Division to remain in lead position by providing prompt and better services. He also talked about the honesty and transparency to ensure a clean image of the company.

The Managing Director asked the organisers to intensify their sales activities and to further expand their area of operation. He also advised the workers to make the current year a successful one.

About 750 sales workers, officers and organizers of Ordinary Life and Gono-Grameen Bima were qualified to participate in the annual conference from all over the country. A good number of them received attractive prizes and certificates for their accomplishment.

Colourful cultural programmes followed the conference on each day in the evening.

SIBL board meeting held

The 169th meeting of the Board of Directors of Social Investment Bank Limited was held in the Board Room of the bank on April 1.

Abdul Awal Patwary, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank presided over the meeting. Vice-Chairmen, Directors, Managing Director KM Ashaduzzaman, Chief Financial Officer Walid Mahmud Sobhani and Board Secretary Md Mamudul Hasan were present in the meeting. Important decisions on various activities of the bank were taken.

BTRC chairman visits GP office

BUSINESS REPORT

BTRC Chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Monzurul Alam on Wednesday visited the office of GrammeenPhone (GP), the country's leading cellphone operator. The GP high officials made presentations on the GP's achievement and future planning during the visit. They also discussed with the BTRC chairman their activities and problems. BTRC commissioner SM Monir Ahmed, deputy director M Rafiqul Islam and media consultant Abbas Faruque were also present in the meeting. This was the first-ever visit by the BTRC Chairman to the GP office.

Dilwar H Bhuiyan new GM of Karmasangsthan Bank

Md. Dilwar Hossain Bhuiyan has recently been promoted as General Manager by the government and posted at Karmasangsthan Bank. Prior to his promotion, he was Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Krishi Bank. Dilwar did his BA (Hons) and MA in English from University of Dhaka and MBA from Bangladesh Open University. He also did Post Graduate Diploma on Personnel Management (PGDPM) from Bangladesh Institute of Management, Dhaka and Diploma on Banking from Institute of Bankers, Bangladesh. Bhuiyan has received a number of training on banking at home and abroad. Besides, he has good number of writings on Banking and Finance. Dilwar is the third son of late Alhaj Md. Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, noted educationist of Tangail and author of Lucky Functional English and Read and Learn English.

Get-together programme of Continental Insurance held

On the occasion of 'Client Service Month-2008,' a get-together program of Rangpur Branch of Continental Insurance Limited was held recently at Zilla Parishad Community Centre, Rangpur.

Khandoker Atiar Rahman, Deputy Commissioner, Rangpur, was present as the chief guest. Md. Hashmat Ali FCII (London), FFII (India), Managing Director of the company presided over the function. Hosne Ara Begum,General Manager, Pubali Bank Ltd Zonal Office Rangpur and former MD of RAKUB Md. Ashraf Ali, Consultant (Business Promotion) of the company were present as special guests.

High officials of the company Md Aminur Rahman, EVP and Incharge (PUD), Major Md Shafiullah, EB (Retd), VP and Incharge (Admn and Estt), SAVP and Incharge (PRD), Md Rafiqul Haque, VP and overall Incharge, Rangpur Branch and Firoz Ryhan, Incharge, Rangpur Branch were also present. Many businessmen, bankers, journalists, guests and senior officials of the company attended the function. Hashmat Ali, in his brief speech, assured the clients of best services including prompt settlement of claims. He said the company made tremendous progress within a short period because of untiring efforts of the company's branch in-charge and development officers and patronization and unflinching support of the clients. The program was followed by dinner and ended after a dazzling and enjoyable cultural function.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank holds training course

A two-day long training Course on 'Asset Liability Management' for the Officers of Al-Arafah Islami Bank Ltd. was held at AIBL Training & Research Academy on April 9 and 10. Chairman of Board of Directors of the bank Md Anowar Hossain was present as the chief guest and inaugurated the course on April 9. Managing Director MA Samad Sheikh was present as special guest. Among others, AKM Fuzlul Hoque, Senior Vice President and Principal of Training Academy was present on the occasion.