The New Nation - Internet Edition

Workshop on AIDS held in Jhalakati

UNB, Jhalakati

A day long workshop on "Orientation of police officials on HIV/AIDS issue" was held at the office of police superintendent on Tuesday. A total of 26 police officials of the district took part in the workshop. District Police Superintendent M Shafiqur Rahaman attended the programme as chief guest while assistant police superintendent Uttam Kumar Paul as special guest. Padakkhep, a non government organisation organised the workshop with the financial assistance of Unicef and National Aids/STD programme (NASP).

Default loans on rise: Problem to continue as long as sluggish trend in business prevails, emergency remains in force

BUSINESS REPORT

The amount of default loans with the country's banking sector has increased further. The non-performing loans amounted to Tk 25,000 crore at the end of June this year. The default loans have increased by Tk 2,700 crore in the last one year.

Economists and bankers think that default loans have shot up mainly for three reasons-sluggishness in trade and business, high rate of interest on bank loans and two consecutive natural calamities.

According to the loan classification and provisioning report prepared by Bangladesh Bank on the basis of the data sent by the country's 48 commercial banks, the volume of classified loans stood at Tk 24,997 crore or 13.02 per cent, out of Tk 1,92,037 crore outstanding loans, on June 30 of this year, compared to Tk 22,624 crore or 13.23 percent on December 31 of last year.

The overall situation has aggravated further due to ballooning of classified loans in the government-owned commercial banks.

Earlier, the classified loans reached Tk 23,838 crore on March 31 of this year, which was Tk 22,624 crore on December 31 of last year.

Classified loans in government-owned commercial banks stood at Tk 15,289 crore or 33.13 percent of outstanding loans, which had been Tk 13,791 crore or 29.27 percent on December 31, 2007.

Of the government-run banks, the extent of Sonali Bank's default loans has increased during the six-month period--from Tk 6,860 crore in December 2007 to Tk 8,547 crore in June 2008.

The default loans of Janata Bank, the second largest state-owned commercial bank, stood at Tk 1,965 crore until June this year, while the non-performing loans of Agrani Bank, the third largest state-owned commercial bank, which is still in red, stood at Tk 2,992 crore up to June this year.

According to the central bank, default loans increased by Tk 832 crore and Tk 36 crore in the private and foreign commercial banking sectors respectively.

Default loan as percentage of total loan is below five percent in 27 private banks. However, default loans of ICB Islamic Bank, Bangladesh Commerce Bank, and Uttara Bank amount to 69.37, 28 and 9.36 percent of their total loans.

The central bank sources said the percentage of ICB's default loans of its total loans is very high, adding that the bank is now performing very well under its current management.

Default loans in private commercial banks added up to Tk 5,753 crore or 4.94 percent of outstanding loans in June 2008, which was Tk 4,921 crore or 5.01 percent in December 2007.

Classified loans in specialised banks stood at Tk 3,725 crore or 26.21 percent of outstanding loans in June '08, compared to Tk 3,716 crore or 28.58 percent in December 2007.

The size of default loans in foreign commercial banks stood at Tk 230 crore or 1.51 percent of outstanding loans in June against Tk 194 crore or 1.43 percent in December of last year.

According to former Deputy Governor and present Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled, the main reason behind shooting up of classified loans with the banking sector is sluggish trend in trade and business due to declaring the State of Emergency in the country. "It's natural that a borrower loses the ability to repay his loans if his business is affected in any way," he said.

"In such a situation, many entrepreneurs have closed down their industries and factories. Many enterprises have become sick. So, the influences of these negative aspects have fallen on banks' loan recovery drives."

Khaled thinks that the classified loan situation will improve if a constitutional government can restore confidence in business and trade after coming to power through the coming election. "Lack of confidence will continue to prevail whatever efforts are made by the government keeping the State of Emergency in force," he observed.

IBF gives scholarships worth Tk 55,70,900 to 483 students

A Scholarship Awarding Ceremony for the selected students for Scholarship 2008 was organized by Islami Bank Foundation on August 18 last at Multipurpose Hall of Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.

Presided over by Shah Abdul Hannan, Chairman of Islami Bank Foundation the function was addressed, among others, by Mir Quasem Ali, Member Secretary of Islami Bank Foundation, Prof Sharif Hossain, Chairman of Scholarship Implementation Committee of IBF and M Fariduddin Ahmad, Managing Director of the bank. Moulana Zainul Abedin, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors of IBBL conducted doa and munajat.

This year 150 students at SSC or equivalent level, 200 students at Degree and Masters level and 133 students at higher level have been given Tk 55,70,900. Under this programme, Tk 4.71 crore was distributed among 5571 students from 1992 to 2008. Moreover, Islami Bank Foundation has been providing monetary help to the poor student to pay examination fees, session fees and to buy textbooks.

Shah Abdul Hannan said in his presidential speech that students are the future of the society. They are citizens of next generation.

Our nation will be build up through their success. Our national character will be bloomed up by their life style, civic sense, language and values. So, we must build up our future generation with ideological identity.

Mir Quasem Ali, in his welcome speech, said, Islami Bank Foundation is trying to contribute to every sector of the society by conducting manifold welfare oriented activities. Islami Bank Foundation has spent Tk 168.35 so far through different programmes. Further programmes have been chalked out to conduct the future activities of the Foundation.

Prof Sharif Hossain said that many a student who received scholarships from Islami Bank Foundation are now playing significant role in different sectors of the society as BCS Cadre, doctor, engineer, agriculturist, lawyer, Islamic scholar, educationalist, researcher etc. It is undoubtedly a great achievement of Islami Bank Foundation.

Business Review Meeting of Asiatic Laboratories Ltd held

A business review meeting of Asiatic Laboratories Ltd for 2008 was held at Sheraton Hotel in the city on August 19 last. Managers of sales and marketing division from allover the country were present at the meeting.

Chairman Ms Tahmina Begum and Managing Director Monir Ahmed delivered their speeches highlighting the company's long-term policy.

General Manager, Marketing Akhil Chandra Bhowmik discussed on the business success up to July 2008 and outlined the marketing policy and strategy to achieve the business target for 2008.

Sales Manager Tapan Kumar Saha, Product Manager Sheikh Zahir Raihan and Asst Sales Manager AH Siddiky also spoke on the occasion.

Asiatic is a ISO 9001:2000 certified pharmaceutical company. It started its journey truly from 2001.

It is a fast growing company having marketing activities all over the country and it distributes goods through own distribution network.

Asiatic Laboratories Ltd produces medicines by following WHO cGMP. Asiatic manufactures tablets, capsules, syrups, suspensions, dry syrups, ointments, creams and sterile eye drops.

Meeting the demand of local market Asiatic exports its products to different countries of the world.

Etihad launches 'unaccompanied baggage' service

Etihad Airways has started a new service to allow its customers to send heavy or excess quantities of baggage before they fly. The 'unaccompanied baggage' service is for luggage which exceeds approved allowances to be sent separately to avoid excess baggage fees.

The service is run by the airline's cargo division, Etihad Crystal Cargo using established cargo processes and procedures with customers benefiting from special rates that are cheaper than the excess baggage fees they would normally have paid.

Des Vertannes, Etihad Airways' executive vice president cargo, said: "We anticipate this service will become extremely popular with our customers, especially members of the expatriate community in the UAE flying back home.

"All customers need to do is to fill in the required documentation and they will then be issued with a reference number for tracking and tracing their baggage. The entire process takes just 10 minutes and customers are kept informed about the arrival time of their baggage once it is booked as cargo on an Etihad flight or with one of our interline partners."

Only baggage from customers travelling on an Etihad flight and containing personal effects is eligible for the service. Baggage must also meet standard check-in baggage regulations regarding dimensions and weight.

Currently, unaccompanied baggage can be checked in at the Etihad customer service and ticket desk in the check-in area at Abu Dhabi airport's Terminal.

National Life Insurance declares 40pc dividend

The 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of National Life Insurance Co Ltd was held on August 18 last at its own building "NLI TOWER" at 54, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

Founder Chairman M Haider Chowdhury presided over the meeting.

Vice Chairman Abdul Monem, EC Chairman Alhaj KM Habib Zaman, Director Dr Humayun Kabir, Director SI Chowdhury, Director Md Imrul Alam, Managing Director (CC) Azizul Islam Talukder and Company Secretary ATM Shafiqul Islam were present at the meeting.

The attended shareholders thanked the Board of Directors for the achievement of the company. At the meeting the shareholders unanimously approved the Accounts of 2007. The company declared 20 percent cash and 20 percent stock (total 40 percent) dividend to the shareholders for share of Tk 100/- each.

BRAC Bank re-locates Narayanganj branch

BRAC Bank Limited has relocated its Narayanganj branch to Plot No. 147, BB Road (1st Floor), Narayanganj.

Md Fazlul Hoque, President, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) inaugurated the relocated branch on August 18 last.

AEA Muhaimen, Managing Director and CEO, BRAC Bank Limited, Firoz Ahmed Khan, Head of Retail Banking, Abedur Rahman Sikder, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, and other senior officials of BRAC Bank, local dignitaries and a large number of bank's customers were also present during the event.

The branch has an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) to provide 24-hour cash withdrawal facility for its customers.

Currently, BRAC Bank has 36 Branches, 82 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), 1 5 Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs), more than 650 Point of Sales (POS), 427 SME Unit Offices and more than 1800 Remittance Delivery Points across the country.

Boeing, American Airlines finalise deal for 26 next generation 737s

Boeing and American Airlines, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMR Corp., yesterday announced an order for an additional 26 Next-Generation 737-800s, airplanes that will help the carrier accelerate its fleet renewal plan.

Twenty of the 26 new orders are exercised options. The other six are incremental to American Airlines' 2009-2010 fleet plan announced earlier this year. "American Airlines continues to execute its fleet renewal plan to control costs while prudently reinvesting in the travel experience for customers," said Tom Horton, AMR's executive vice president of Finance and Planning and chief financial officer. "Replacing MD-80s with 737s at current fuel prices provides financial benefits while enhancing the customer experience."

With today's announcement, American has ordered a total of 36 Boeing 737-800s in 2008. In addition to the new orders booked this year, American is accelerating deliveries of airplanes booked in prior years.

"Boeing and American Airlines have enjoyed a partnership that spans more than 50 years - back to the beginning of the commercial jet age. Today's announcement continues that long and successful history," said Ray Conner, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "These additional Next-Generation 737s will enhance American's fleet with newer, more efficient airplanes - lowering fuel costs and lessening the environmental impact of flying."

The Boeing 737-800 is the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family. Known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and economical performance, the 737-800 is selected by leading carriers throughout the world because it provides operators the flexibility to serve a wide range of markets.

To date, 117 customers have placed orders for nearly 5,000 Next-Generation 737s. Unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737 exceed 2,200 airplanes, valued at more than $160 billion at list prices.

Seminar at NUB on sexual and reproductive disease of the community people

The Department of Master of Public Health (MPH) of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) organized a seminar on "Sexual and Reproductive Disease Burden & Health Seeking Behaviours of the Community People, Sitakunda and Chittagong District" at NUB Auditorium of The Faculty of Business. The students of MPH were presented their field trip Report on the Seminar.

Dr. G.U Ahsan Adviser of MPH Program presided over the seminar while Md Lutfor Rahman Director; Human Resources Division was Present the seminar as a chief guest. Director, NIPPORT Dr. Aktar Hossain, & Coordinator of MPH program Dr. Shanaws Chowdhuri were present as a special guest.

Speakers of the seminar expect that all the participant of the MPH programme must be benefited of this field trip.

ACME introduces Spirulina

The ACME Laboratories Ltd, one of the top pharmaceutical companies in Banglaesh, has recently launched a new herbal product Spirulina. Spirulina is a blue-green algae. Its botanical name is Spirulina Planktum. It is a natural nutritional supplement containing almost all the nutritional elements like protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and amino acids in high amount. ACME's Spirulina is indicated for the treatment and prevention of all kinds of malnutrition, anemia and night blindness and also to enhance immunity. It is available as 450 mg capsule in plastic container and each container contains 30 capsules. The indicative price of SPIRULINA is Tk 4 per capsule.

Prize giving ceremony of Faculty of Engineering & Technology of Eastern University held

The prize giving ceremony of the Faculty or Engineering and Technology of Eastern University was held at the university auditorium (Campus-2, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka) on August 12 last. It was organized by Sports Club of the Faculty of Electrical and Technology.

Prof. Dr. Rahim B. Talukdar, Vice Chancellor, Eastern University was the chief guest and gave away the prizes among the participants.

Faculty members and students of E & T Faculty were also present in the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Prof Dr Md Abul Kalam Azad.

First class designers announced

British Airways has brought together two of Britain's leading design consultancies, for people and tangerine, to take their First class cabins to new heights of customer luxury and service.

In an example of industry partnership, tangerine and for people are working together with BA's in-house design experts on every aspect of the First class experience.

BA was the first commercial airline to develop and introduce fully flat beds in 1995 for its flagship cabin. The rest of the aviation industry quickly followed. for people have an impressive legacy in the luxury travel sector including work for Aston Martin and Jaguar.

Working with BA's design management team, they have responsibility for the overall creative direction of the project including the key aspects of the brand, product and service elements. tangerine, the agency that British Airways used to develop their award-winning fully flat bed in business class, are once again bringing their intelligent design approach and past experience to bear on the First cabin layout and seat design.