The New Nation - Internet Edition

Commerce Adviser off to Turkey

A four member Bangladesh delegation, led by Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, yesterday left here for Turkey to attend a nine-day international trade fair to be held in Ijmeer from Aug 23.

During the visit, the delegation will observe the fair and hold talks with senior government officials and business leaders to explore ways for increasing export of Bangladeshi goods to Turkey and enhancing Turkish investment in Bangladesh.

The Adviser is expected to return home on Aug 30, said a release.

Auction for WiMAX licences next month: Bidding to start from Tk 25cr

BUSINESS REPORT

After awarding the International Gateway (IGW), Interconnection Exchange (ICX) and International Internet Gateway (IIG) licences through auctions successfully, the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is going to hold the auction for awarding the WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) licences in the next month.

The last date for submitting applications for WiMAX licences is September 11.

WiMAX is a wireless digital communications system, which is intended for wireless "metropolitan area networks".

WiMAX can provide broadband wireless access up to 30 miles (50 km) for fixed stations, and 3 to 10 miles (5-15 km) for mobile stations.

Sources at the BTRC told The New Nation that the bidding for WiMAX licences at the auction would start from Tk 25 crore.

BTRC would fix the price for the WiMAX service like the mobile phone call tariffs. Mobile phone operators will not be eligible to apply for the WiMAX licences.

They said that draft policy prepared for issuing WiMAX licence has already been given on the BTRC website. Interested persons gave their opinions, complaints and recommendations on the draft policy till July 9. A pre-auction discussion on these issues was held on Wednesday. Forty-six firms took part in the discussion.

Earlier, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Manzurul Alam said three WiMAX licences would be given to the private operators while one will be given to the state-run Bangladesh Telecommunications Limited Company (BTLC).

But the BTLC has to comply with the rules and regulations including the price for the licence like the private ones, he said.

It is learnt that application fee for the WiMAX licences has been fixed at Tk 50,000, while the annual licence fee has been fixed at Tk 3 crore.

Those who will be awarded the licences will receive bandwidth from 2.3-2.5 gigahartz to 30 megahartz.

According to the draft policy, an investor will be able to take maximum 60 percent foreign investment in the WiMAX services.

Under the oral out plan, the operators have been asked to install five base stations in every divisional city and three base stations in each district in the first year. After starting the work, the licence recipient companies will have to bring 50 per cent of the upazila and 20 per cent of the villages under the network.

Besides, all public and private universities, medical colleges, engineering universities, research organizations, ministries, divisions, departments, boards, corporations and autonomous bodies under the WiMAX services.

In the third year, all primary schools, cultural organizations and union parishad offices will have to bring under the service. Moreover, each of the subscribers will have to be provided with minimum 128 kbpc internet speed.

EBL starts ATM, Billspay services at Motijheel

Eastern Bank Ltd has opened its 27th ATM Booth and Billspay Services at city's commercial heart, Motijheel on August 20 simultaneously to provide better customer services. EBL Motijheel branch has also been renovated.

EBL Chairman Mir Nasir Hossain inaugurated the renovated branch, ATM and Billspay Services in a simple ceremony.

EBL Managing Director and CEO Ali Reza Iftekhar, Bangladesh Muktijodha Kallyan Trust Managing Director Masud Ahmed, EBL Deputy Managing Directors Mamoon Mahmood Shah and Muklesur Rahman, local dignitaries, customers and senior EBL officials were present, among others, on the occasion.

Consumers being deceived of origin of powdered-milk: New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh marketing products with fake information

BUSINESS REPORT

Allegations of widespread cheating have been raised against a local company involved in marketing powdered-milk in the name of New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Limited.

The company has allegedly resorted to using misleading information in marketing its products. Bringing powdered-milk from one country, it has been selling it in the name of another country. The company has been marketing five brands of powdered-milk in the local market. Of these five brands, Red Cow and Diploma brands of powdered-milk are produced and imported from New Zealand. Interestingly, the company has been selling these two brands of powdered-milk as the Australian products. Printing the map of Australia on the packets of Red Cow and Diploma brands of powdered-milk, the company has been marketing the products introducing them as the 'Products from Australia.'

According to the existing rules of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI), it is mandatory to mention the name of country of origin on the packets of the products marketed in Bangladesh. But the New Zealand Dairy Products Ltd has long been deceiving people taking refuge of lies and cheating. Though the company has long been cheating both traders and consumers, the authorities concerned are not taking any action against the company.

It is learnt that the Red Cow and Diploma brands of powdered milk are being sold in Bangladesh over the last 35 years. Australia's Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Company Limited used to produce these two brands of powdered milk. A local group of industries used to marketing the products importing from Australia. Since then the 'Product of Australia' has been printed on the packets. In 2005, Fonterra Limited, a leading multinational dairy company of New Zealand bought the major share of the Australian company. From then the New Zealand Dairy Products Ltd, the local distributor of Fonterra Ltd started marketing of the Red Cow and Diploma brands of powdered-milk. But, the New Zealand Dairy Products Ltd has been marketing both the brands of powdered-milk printing the 'Product of Australia' on the packets, which is totally false. Due to this false claim, both buyers and consumers are being cheated by purchasing New Zealand's product in the name of Australian product.

Sources said the company has adopted some tricks to justify its illegal acts.

The company imports 95-98 per cent of its powdered-milk from New Zealand, although the rest 2 per cent is imported from Australia. The invoices of import of powdered milk by the company reveal that it imports 3,000-3,500 metric tonnes of powdered milk annually. Of the volume, only 100 tonnes are imported from Australia, while the rest is imported from New Zealand.

When a businessman was asked why the New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Ltd has adopted this illegal means, he said there are differences in quality between the powdered milk produced in Australia and New Zealand.

He said both Red Cow and Diploma brands of powdered-milk used to come from Australia in the past. That is why both the brands were much popular among the consumers in Bangladesh. In order to utilize this popularity, perhaps the New Zealand Dairy Products Ltd has adopted unfair means.

On the other hand, prices of powdered-milk produced in New Zealand are comparatively lower than Australia. So, the company has been marketing powdered-milk importing from New Zealand instead of Australia.

When contacted, an official of the BSTI said they were not aware of the matter. He, however, admitted that it is mandatory to print the name of the country of origin of the product according to the rules. "Non-mentioning of the name is a punishable offence.

Besides, mentioning the false information is also a punishable offence. "BSTI will certainly take punitive measures if the matter is found true," he also said.

DBBL gets MasterCard license

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) on August 19 announced a tie-up with the MasterCard Worldwide to offer 'MasterCard' payment solutions to its valued customers and merchants. DBBL which so far tied up with MasterCard, last 4 years for Maestro, Cirrus brands only, will now be able to issue MasterCard Credit and Debit Cards to its customers and also grant card accepting machines to merchants.

MasterCard Worldwide, which is in the business over 40 years, is one of the largest payment networks in the world. With over 25 million merchant outlets and over 1 million ATMs worldwide, MasterCard Worldwide makes customers feel at home no matter where they are.

Dutch-Bangla Bank is much proud to be partners with MasterCard Worldwide to offer our customers another card type which is recognized globally.

With this tie up, we shall now be able to receive all the leading card brands in our POS & ATM terminals. As a result we shall now, also expand our Merchant Acquiring network, and issue credit cards and debit cards on MasterCard," says Abul Hasnat Md Rashidul Islam, Chairman of the Dutch-Bangla Bank.

Commenting on the collaboration Mugizhnan Sambandhamoorthy, Senior Manager, National Key Accounts South Asia, MasterCard Worldwide, said: "We, at MasterCard, are always striving to deliver the best technology to our customer banks.

Innovation is an integral part of MasterCard Worldwide and we are constantly driven to provide products and services that meet the need of diverse range of consumers. We are planning to bring our product innovations into Bangladesh market, in the coming months."

IBBL holds business promotion meeting

A meeting on 'Business Promotion' organised by Chittagong Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited for the officials and staff of all the branches of Lohagara, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts was held recently at Cultural Centre of Cox's Bazar.

M Fariduddin Ahmad, Managing Director and Abul Hossain, Executive Vice President and Head of Chittagong Zone of the bank were present at the meeting as chief guest and special guest respectively.

Presided over by GM Mohammad Gias Uddin Quader, Assistant Vice President of Cox's Bazar branch the meeting was attended by executives, officials and staff of all branches of the bank of Lohagara, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts.

M Fariduddin Ahmad, in his speech, said that IBBL had been able to achieve the reliance of all by exposing itself as a 'Model Bank' to local and foreign financial institutes.

He said customer service should be improved in order to sustain the success achieved so far.

He called upon the officials to receive the best training course in the light of globalization for serving the purpose.

He said, "We have to acquire the highest professional qualities through hard work and supreme sacrifice.

We must have to have the capability to solve all the problems with efficiency and acceptance raised in the way of banking transaction. He urged all to convey the facilities of deposit schemes of the Bank to the doors of the mass people.

He laid emphasis, specifically upon Mudaraba Waqf Cash Deposit Account, Mudaraba Muhr Savings Account, Mudaraba Hajj Savings Account. He called upon all manpower of the Bank to work with sincerity to promote the lank.

Banglalink reaches one crore subscribers mark

BUSINESS REPORT

Banglalink announced that it has reached the one crore subscriber mark, further strengthening its position as the country's second largest mobile operator. The milestone has been reached in only three and a half years of operation, which represents an incredible achievement, and provides testimony to the company's rapid expansion that has made it the fastest growing mobile operator in the country.

On this occasion, Rashid Khan, President and CEO of Banglalink said: "Orascom Telecom came to Bangladesh with the objective of becoming a major force in the market, and this is exactly what has been achieved in such a short period of time. Our slogan is "making a difference" and we strive very hard to live up to this in everything we do. The fact that over one crore customers have shown confidence in us shows that we have been able to live up to their expectations."

The impressive growth of Banglalink is based on the overwhelming response to Banglalink's innovative products and services, and is fuelled by heavy infrastructure investment. The company has so far invested more than $ 800 million in its network infrastructure and is continuing to invest further to ensure the highest quality service to customers.

A major project aimed at enhancing network quality further that has recently been completed is a nationwide fiber optic network of over 1900 kilometers that includes the longest submarine cable in the country running under the Padma River.

In terms of service quality, Banglalink has continued to invest heavily in its customer care services.

Banglalink has the largest network of over 700 customer service points spread all over the country along with a passionate and vigilant team to provide quality and prompt service. A state of the art call centre serves customers around the clock where service is provided by highly trained agents under the "one call does it all" slogan. Banglalink focuses heavily on its corporate social responsibility, and has been very active in promoting tourism and cultural activities in the country. Banglalink has also pioneered efforts in times of need when the country was hit by floods and hurricane Sidr.

GETCO Telecom's Interconnection Exchange to be commissioned tomorrow

BUSINESS REPORT

The Interconnection Exchange (ICX) of GETCO Telecommunication, a licensee of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to handle telephone calls under Voice over Internet Protocol Technology will be formally commissioned tomorrow (Saturday).

The ICX of GETCO Telecommunication goes into formal operation simultaneously along with two other IGW (International Gateway) exchanges and another ICX allowed to operate in the private sector under license from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in the purview of International Long Distance Telecommunication System (ILDTS) Policy- 2007 being implemented by the present government.

BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd) Manzurul Alam will formally inaugurate the ICX at the premises of GETCO Telecommunication Ltd tomorrow at Quaderia Tower, JA- 28/8/B, Mohakhali, Dhaka.

The commissioning of the IGW and ICX switches along with the existing BTCL formerly BTTB system is going to usher in a new era in Telecommunication sector the country.

The operation of the IGW and ICX exchanges will go a long way to put an end to illegal VOIP business, a drive initiated of the present caretaker government.

Apart from the Dhaka ICX, the GETCO Telecommunication has also set up ICX exchanges at Sylhet and Bogra to provide nation-wide service

The GETCO Telecommunication ICX is designed to carry daily traffic of 5 million minutes of international traffic and 17 million minutes per day of inter-operator traffic.

The exchange is also designed to carry one-third of international and inter operator traffic and 50 percent traffic at Bogra and Sylhet. The switch is capable of handling a total 16 million busy hour call attempts (BHCA).

The objectives ILDTS policy of 2007 being implementation by the present government includes upholding of subscribers interest by providing low cost international telecommunication services through introducing state-of-the-art technology, stopping of foreign currency siphoning and money laundering, ensuring proper revenue earning by exchequer and protecting national security and interest.

The ICX exchange will also allow BTRC to monitor all calls and detect any unusual call pattern of the telephone network. The monitoring system also incorporates provision for preservation of call records of six months and all call contents of any conversation.

Embryologist Low Ai Lee joins Square Hospital

Renowned embryologist Ms Low Ai Lee has extensive experience in the field of in-vitro fertility, as she has been in this profession for over 13 years.

She has carried out laboratory procedures for IUI, IVF, and ICSI blastocyst culture transfer, sperm and embryo freezing and thawing vitrification.

Ms Lee is proud to be a part of the team which carried out the first frozen embryo transfer programme in Malaysia in 1996, and first surrogacy programme in Malaysia and Singapore in 1995.

She has experiences in medical laboratory and worked as an assistant medical science officer in the Department of Physiology, University Science Malaysia. She obtained diploma and gained on hand training in her field form Edinburgh, UK and Malaysia.

Ms. Lee has recently joined Square Hospital as Embryologist.

StanChart organises training on Anti-Money Laundering

Standard Chartered Bank organised a training session on "Anti-Money Laundering" at its Country Head Office.

In the training session newly passed "Money Laundering Prevention Ordinance 2008", "Anti-Terrorism Ordinance 2008" and various other aspects of Anti Money Laundering were discussed. Participants from different branches including Branch Managers and other departments of Consumer Bank attended the session.

The session was inaugurated by Tanvir Haider Chaudhury, Head of Shared Distribution and Service Quality, Standard Chartered Bank.

M Mahfuzur Rahman, General Manager of Anti-Money Laundering Department, Bangladesh Bank and Chowdhury MAQ Sarwar, Head of Legal and Compliance along with other senior managers of Standard Chartered Bank jointly conducted the training session.