The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

A day long 29th Branch Managers' Conference of Al-Arafah Islami Bank Ltd was held at The Westin Hotel on July 19 last.

Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank Alhajj Md Anowar Hossain was present as the chief guest and inaugurated the conference. Members, Board of Directors Alhajj Nazmul Ahsan Khaled, Alhajj Abdul Malek Mollah, Alhajj Kazi Mofizur Rahman and Alhajj Khondaker Mesbah Uddin Ahmed addressed on the occasion. Directors Alhajj Md Harun-ar-Rashid Khan and Alhajj Hafez Md Enayetullah were also present.

MA Samad Sheikh, Managing Director of the bank was presided over the conference. Among others, Additional Managing Directors ATM Harun-Ur-Rashid Chowdhury, executives, officers and employees of the bank were present on that occasion. Forty-six branch managers of the bank participated in the conference.

Md Anowar Hossain said, in his speech, the bank has already introduced online banking from the month of May during this year to make banking service easy, sound and effective. As a result, service quality and volume of transaction of the bank has dramatically improved.

He said during the last six months, the bank has achieved growth of 182.56 per cent in profit, 42.26 per cent in deposit, 37.21 per cent in investment, 32.02 per cent in import and 43.48 per cent in export sector. During the period the bank was able to reduce its classified investment, which stood at 2.75 per cent at the end of June 2008. He also said that a large portion of investments of the bank is being invested on SME sector. The Chairman insisted the branch managers on paying attention to this sector more.