The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday called upon the commercial banks and financial institutions to focus more on the poor people for bringing them under the banking services and enhancing the country's ongoing development process.

"Bank and non bank financial institutions (NBFI) could identify potentials clients and invest in new frontier of economy for mutual profits," he said as chief guest while inaugurating a 3-day long 'Bank and Non-bank Financial Institutions Fair 2008' at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Dhaka Sheraton Hotel organised the first ever fair in the country for bringing all the products and services of the banks and non-banks financial institutions under single roof.

Trevor MacDonald, General Manager of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel welcomed the guests.

Nazrul Islam Mazumder, Chairman, Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), Kazi Mahmood Sattar, Chairman, Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) and Anis A Khan, chairman, Bangladesh Leasing and Finance Companies' Association (BLFCA) also spoke on the occasion.

Mentioning the country's growth Dr Zillur said Bangladesh has achieved the capacity to autopilot an economic growth of 5 percent at any circumstance.

He said if the country witnessed political stability then it could be possible to achieve 10 per cent growth.

"It could be achieved through focussing on the poor at the bottom of the pyramid," he mentioned.

He said Bangladesh is posed on many transitions, including political transition, and embarked most importantly on the economic transition.

Terming the event of bank fair the Commerce Adviser hoped that it would help contribute to the economic development of the country.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the commercial banks had done a good job despite global turmoil.

He called upon them to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by the next decade.

The motto of the banks and non- bank financial institutions should be " to minimise risks and to maximise profits" he mentioned.

He called upon the banks to go for financial inclusion - bringing under the banking system the section of people who still remained outside.

"Financial inclusion is very important for economic development," he mentioned.

Nazrul Islam Mazumder called upon private banks to spend a small portion of their profit for poor people's higher education.

Kazi Mahmood Sattar called upon the banks to focus on the consumers interest alongside from their profits.

The City Bank, Arab Bangladesh Bank Ltd, Mercantile Bank Ltd, Continental Insurance, Dhaka Bank Ltd, Standard Chartered, Trust Bank, United Commercial Bank (UCB), Uttara Finance, Prime Bank Ltd, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Pubali Bank, IDLC, Islamic Finance and Investment Ltd, Green Delta Life, DBH, ICB Capital Management, MIDAS Financing, First Lease, ICB lslamic Bank, National Bank Ltd, National Housing Finance, NCC Bank, One Bank Ltd, Phoenix Finance and Investments Ltd, Premier Bank, Exim Bank, Prime Finance and Social Investment Bank are among the participants of the fair.

The fair will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm for public and will be concluded tomorrow.