The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed on Monday said the country needs visionary leadership, who would be able to lead the country attaining food autarky.

"Country has tremendous potentialities and pragmatic plans, but lacks farsighted leadership to advance the nation towards an expected development fighting all sorts of impediments like corruption, poverty and hunger," he said.

The Army Chief said this while inaugurating a unit of 'Trust Islamic Banking' at the principal branch of the Trust Bank Limited at Dhaka Cantonment on Monday afternoon here.

Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army and vice chairman of the Trust Bank Ltd. Major General Motiur Rahman, managing director of the Bank Iqbal U Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director Ishtiaque Ahmed Chowdhury, chairman of Shariah Council and Acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Muhammad Nuruddin, head of Trust Islamic Banking Shahud Ahmed and directors the bank were present, among others.

General Moeen, who is also the chairman of the Trust Bank Ltd, said there is no alternative of making the country self- sufficient in food production.

He also laid emphasize on increasing crop production by providing farmers with necessary inputs such as water, fertiliser, diesel and interest-free loans.

General Moeen said changing climatic conditions are posing a serious threat to development and time has come to cope with the challenges efficiently.

The Army Chief underscored the need for strengthening the country's family planning programmes for a speedy economic growth. "The Trust Bank is providing services to the people not for earning profits only," he said adding 10 per cent profit of the bank would be directly provided to the poor.

Trust Islamic Banking Service, run on the basis of Shariah- based economic activities, will provide hundred percent interest- free loans to the customers," the Army Chief said.

He said except Bangladesh Islamic Banking is in operation in many countries, including England and Japan.

General Moeen has transferred his account with the Trust Bank to the Islamic baking service unit of the organization.

Initially, the Islamic Banking facilities will be available at the principal branch of bank at Dhaka Cantonment and CDA Avenue Branch in Chittagong, and subsequently at all other branches, the bank sources said.