The New Nation - Internet Edition

Korean company to invest $12.5m in Karnaphuli EPZ

BUSINESS REPORTER

Messrs OFMA Camp Limited, a Korean company will set up a tent, sleeping bags, camping furniture, and related accessories manufacturing industry in the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone.

This 100 per cent foreign owned company will invest US$12.5 million (about Taka 85 crore) in setting up its plant and will produce annually 15-30 million pieces of sleeping bags, tents, camping furniture and its accessories. The company will also create employment opportunity for 785 Bangladeshi and five foreign nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and the Messrs OFMA Camp Limited in BEPZA Complex, Dhaka on Sunday.

Prasanta Bhushan Barua, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Byeong Soo Jean, Managing Director of Messrs OFMA Camp Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Among others, Brig General Jamil Ahmed Khan, Executive Chairman of BEPZA , Member (Engineering) Md Farhad Uddin, Member (Finance) AKM Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary BM Kamal, General Manager (Investment Promotion) SM Abdur Rashid, Manager (Industrial Relations) Md Abdus Sobhan and from investors side Khadem Rasul Bhuiyan were present at the signing ceremony.

Australia funds IOM to combat irregular migration in Bangladesh

BUSINESS REPORTER

Australian High Commissioner, Douglas Foskett, signed an agreement with Ms Rabab Fatima, Regional Representative for South Asia of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to continue an extended phase of the project titled 'Enhancing Capacity of the Immigration Officials to Combat Irregular Migration in Bangladesh'.

To implement the project, IOM will receive an amount of AUD 95,213 (approximately Taka 61 lakh) under the South Asia Governance Fund 2007-08 of the Australian government.

The agreement was timely in light of the comments in the latest Trafficking in Persons Report 2008 that the government has yet to comply with the minimum global standards of human trafficking prevention. IOM will assist

Bangladesh government through this project to combat irregular migration including people smuggling and trafficking in persons, as well as better managing migration by effective border management. IOM will provide technical, professional and specialized inputs, and will be the manager of the project.

The Australian government puts high priority on the issue of irregular migration.

During the signing ceremony, High Commissioner Douglas Foskett said that Australia recognizes Bangladesh's continued commitment to be a part of the international effort to address the problem of irregular migration. Australia is pleased to be able to contribute to Bangladesh's efforts in this regard.

Standard Bank holds 128th board meeting

BUSINESS REPORTER

The 128th Board Meeting of Standard Bank Ltd was held on June 3 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, Director Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury, Abdul Ahad, Ferdous Ali Khan, Farzana Yousuf, Md Ziaul Haque Khondker and Shaikh Mesba Uddin.

Among others, Managing Director (CC) SA Farooqui, DMD Md. Nazmus Salehin and Board Secretary AFM Nizamul Islam Chowdhury were 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.

Sonali Bank holds Dhaka dist Branch Managers' conference

BUSINESS REPORTER

Branch Managers' Conference of Sonali Bank Limited, Dhaka district and Metropolitan area was recently held at the IFST Conference Room of BCSIR in the city.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of the bank SA Chowdhury attended the conference as the chief guest, while Deputy Managing Director Raihana Anisa Yusuf Ali and all General Managers of the Head Office were present on the occasion.

Chowdhury laid emphasis on quality services, strengthening collection of new deposits and recovery of classified loan to show the potentiality of Sonali Bank as a newly turned public limited company.

He also advised all the officers and staff members to be positive in attitude and behavior in gaining customer's satisfaction.

General Manager of GM Office, Dhaka, Mahe Alam Chowdhury presided over the conference, while it was participated by a number of Branch Managers and other representatives of relevant branches and offices.

HSBC celebrates World Environment Day

BUSINESS REPORTER

HSBC Bangladesh has celebrated the World Environment Day by undertaking a number of activities to raise awareness of environmental issues.

To mark the day itself, HSBC Bangladesh and its staff carried out a large scale exercise planting over 1000 trees at the Osmani Udayan park in Dhaka city.

All HSBC Branches and Customer Service Centers (CSC) were branded with a green theme and all customer facing staff were invited to wear green to celebrate World Environment Day.

Throughout the month of June, HSBC's "GO GREEN" campaign will enable customers to avail themselves of a CNG Conversion Loan at a discounted interest rate. For each CNG Conversion Loan taken out during the month, HSBC will plant an additional tree. HSBC globally has a strong commitment to environmental causes, and has committed US$100 million (Tk 700 crore) to a 5-year climate programme. HSBC Bangladesh has actively participated in this global initiative, most recently sending a staff member to Malaysia to participate in an environmental research programme.

DCCI launches web portal

BUSINESS REPORTER

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) formally launched its community portal at a function at Dhaka Westin Hotel on Sunday.

The launching ceremony was jointly organised by DCCI and Tejari FZ LLC, the largest regional business to business online portal established in 15 countries. In his welcome address, DCCI President Hossain Khaled said, the launching of the web portal was important in that it would help expanding trade and business both at home and abroad. The Dubai-based company Tejari has designed the web portal of DCCI and has listed 40 companies from DCCI as free members.

He said, "We firmly believe that the whole business community will benefit from this, as electronic means has come to regular use by business houses to advertise and market their goods and services all over the world."

Omar Hejaji, the CEO of Tejari, said, "We do have a mission of building a new silk road. This new road an e-silk road for the 21st century connects today's emerging markets and is one that is paved with fibre optic cables, telecommunications networks and online trading communities."

Chairman of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEl) Faruk Sobhan who attended as chief guest in his address said, the DCC' has taken the opportunity to be a part of e-commerce and e-business organization.

"I hope the internet business communication will take Bangladesh forward and business infrastructure development of our country will be faster," he said.

Exquisite Ornament Exhibition

Young Artist Amman Rashid's 2nd solo ornament exhibition is going to be held on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Words N Pages (125, Gulshan Avenue; Gulshan-2; Dhaka-1212). Eminent sculptor and artist Ferdousi Priyobhashini will inaugurate the exhibition going to be organized by 'Aadi', an ornament brand developed by Amman Rashid himself.

The exhibition, show casing different and various types of Aadi items, will continue up to 21 June. Aadi is an ornament brand upholding the trend of using natural elements. Behind the making of each ornament, there larks a different story. This is why each of the brand's ornament bears exceptional name; such as Chirosokha, Marfoti, Adibashi, Dhal, Ekta Chabi Maira.

The ornaments meant for the delight of all age brackets for daily attiring, made of different types of thread, dry seed, dry fruits, shells, snails, mud or left-over naturals materials, are the out-come of hard labor, sweat and passion. Amman, through his fusion of indigenous motif with African flavor, dreams of a cultural bondage between the two traditions. His works are of unique design without being isolated from the tradition.

Int'l Turkish Hope School holds 'Year End Program'

International Turkish Hope School arranged a great 'Year End Program' on May 31 at BIAM Auditorium in the city. Justice Afzal Hossain Ahmed of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, High Court Division, attended the programme as the chief guest. Honorary Consul General of Turkey Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Fakhrul Islam, Joint Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism , ex-chairman of BTRC Syed Marghub Murshed were among other distinguished guests. The programme included speeches from Bayram Saatci, Principal of ITHS, Chief Guest Justice Afzal Hossain Ahmed.

Besides, a prize giving ceremony, slide show about International Turkish Hope School and its achievements were presented to the audience. Bangla, Turkish and English songs, cultural shows, karate show and drama shows were performed by the students of ITHS.

Function started with recitation of Surah Fatiha and National Anthem of Bangladesh. Bayram Saatci, Principal of ITHS, delivered the welcome speech.

Justice Afzal Hossain Ahmed said that he was very pleased being attending the function of ITHS. "I came to learn that ITHS follows the international GCE Curriculum and prepares the students for O & A Level Examinations and is getting very successful results in these examinations every year. By providing modern methods and techniques in teaching and education, the school contributes a lot for the education quality in Bangladesh. Besides, the school participates and represents Bangladesh successfully in international olympiads and competitions. Apart from education ITHS is well known school in providing humanitarian aids to needy people. Moreover, the school expanded its branches out of Dhaka to Chittagong and Bogra. I wish the school administration and students every success in the future.'

Afterward, the prize distribution programme was held. The chief guest, principal of the school and some other guests presented the awards. Students who achieved excellent results in GCE O & A Level Examinations got scholarship awards and their plaques. Among them Shehrin Chowdhury had scored the highest mark in Chemistry in GCE O' Level Examinations. Four students who got golden, silver and bronze medals in 5th International Turkish Olympiads where 550 students from 102 countries participated in Turkey were awarded US$1,000 that was given to each of the students by Olympiad Organizing Committee. Besides, teachers behind all these achievements were also awarded a plaque of appreciation.

Later, cultural shows of students held. Students aged from 3 to 18 from five branches of I.T.H.S. performed many shows successfully.

British Airways' new manager for Bangladesh

BUSINESS REPORTER

Paul Beech has been appointed as the Manager for Bangladesh by British Airways and will be responsible for all the airline's commercial activities in the country. Prior to this appointment, Paul held the position of Contact Centre Manager South Asia based in Gurgaon and was responsible for British Airways' international call centre in India.

He has been with British Airways for 10 years and has held key positions in a wide variety of sales and commercial teams. His previous appointments include Commercial Manager in the UK retail and Retail Manager in Scotland. Paul enjoys good food and his leisure interests include running and travelling.

Urfi Ahmad new Regional Director for Asia Pacific of Grey Worldwide

Urfi Ahmad, Client Services Director of Grey Worldwide -Bangladesh, has been promoted as Regional Director for Asia Pacific and will be moving to the Grey's regional centre based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is the first time that a Bangladeshi advertising professional has been appointed to such an important overseas role from this country and it is a great honour for Grey Bangladesh as well as for the country.

Ahmad began his advertising career at Grey Bangladesh as an account executive in 1998 and began serving their most important client-British American Tobacco Bangladesh. In his new role as Senior Regional Account Director, Ahmad will be responsible for the Asia Pacific region spanning India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh as well as the Middle East. He will look after the British American Tobacco account with specific responsibility on three brands for now--John Player Gold Leaf, Benson & Hedges, and Kent. British American Tobacco is one of Grey's most important and longstanding clients Ahmad's role will be crucial in maintaining land owing the business.