The New Nation - Internet Edition

Global economic downturn must not adversely affect development cooperation: Iftekhar

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Thursday that the current global financial turmoil and economic downturn must not have any adverse impact on Bangladesh's development cooperation with the West.

He made the remark to journalists after a meeting with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Stephen Evans at the Foreign Ministry.

"Both the Ambassador and I hope that the situation does not adversely impact on the development cooperation with the West in general and Europe in particular," Iftekhar said.

The Adviser appreciated the leadership of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to resolve the current economic downturn.

They also discussed a number of international issues including UN convention against torture and the issue of Kosovo.

"We discussed a range of international issues across which Bangladesh and the UK cooperate," Evans said adding they discussed early ratification of the UN optional protocol against torture.

Asked whether they discussed pre-election political issues, the High Commissioner said they mainly focused on international issues.

He expressed the hope that the day's political dialogue between the government and major political parties would help resolve the political matters.

GP to lose market share to Warid over the next three years: IEMR

Business Report

Warid Telecom will continue to set pace for subscriber growth in the country's mobile sector, while GrameenPhone market share (by subscribers) would decrease from 45.2% to 42.5% in the forecast period, 2008 - 2010 according to New Mobile Operator Market Research Report by IEMR.

IE Market Research Corp (IEMR), the Canadian-based provider of market intelligence services, recently announced the release of its 4Q08 Bangladesh Mobile Operator Forecast. IEMR's Bangladesh Mobile Operator Forecast covers up to 65 financial and operational metrics on six wireless operators.

The largest operator in the country will continue to be GrameenPhone (Telenor), but its market share (by subscribers) will decrease from 45.2% to 42.5% in the forecast period, 2008 -- 2010. Overall, GrameenPhone will be losing market shares to a smaller operator, Warid, over the next three years the report said.

According to the report, total subscribers in Bangladesh would increase from the projected 51.5 million in 2008 to 67.6 million in 2010.

The level of wireless penetration will increase steadily in Bangladesh from our projected 31.8% in 2008 to 40.3% in 2010 the report forecasted.

The level of competition in the wireless market will continue to increase, and the HHI index will go down from 0.295 in 2008 to 0.280 in 2010.

IEMR's Global Mobile Operator Forecast covers up to 65 operational metrics of 213 mobile operators in 50+ countries, making up 80% of the world's population. Forecasts are based on our proprietary, country-specific forecasting models. These models deploy multiple regression analysis and cross-impact matrices that estimate relationships between subscriber data, technology use and deployment data, overall economic and demographic changes expected in a particular country; and relate these to company operational and financial metrics.

"The 4Q08 Mobile Operator Forecasts demonstrate IEMR's capability to gather information from a variety of global resources and model it into accurate and timely forecasts for our clients," said Nizar Assanie, Vice President of Research at IEMR. "Clients will find the information easily accessible, comprehensive, and exceptionally relevant to enable them to make sound business and investment decisions about mobile operators and vendors strategies."

Best Air launches flight to Kuala Lumpur

BUSINESS REPORT

Best Air has launched its direct flight to a new international destination - Kuala Lumpur recently.

The inaugural programme of Best Air's Kuala Lumpur Flight at Zia International Airport (ZIA) was conducted by Chairman of Best Air M Haider Uzzaman on Tuesday.

Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz Malaysian ambassador to Bangladesh, Chatermpol Thanchitt Thai ambassador, Phae Thann Oo Ambassador of Myanmar and Nguyen Van That, ambassador of Vietnam jointly launched the flight.

MH Mishu, Assistant Manager, Corporate Affairs & Branding was also present from Best Air.

At the inaugural program, M Haider Uzzaman said, Best Air will offer best services, at competitive prices, to all segments of passengers in these routes.

He also added that the government or others could arrange for required taxes and if seats are available, the airline will carry home free of cost the stranded Bangladeshis in Singapore as well as Malaysia.

To be operated with a 162-seat McDonald Douglas MD-83 aircraft the Dhaka-Malaysia-Dhaka flight has been fixed at $380. Initially, Best Air will operate to Kuala Lumpur on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

'Best Air respects hardworking Bangladeshi migrant workers who earn valuable foreign currency for the country- 'we want to do something special for them,' said Haider.

Best Air launched its operation on the domestic route on January 14 2008. Just after inauguration, within 4 months this carrier started its First International flight to Bangkok, Male & Colombo.

Thereafter, it added the most significant destination in manpower export: the Dubai route.

Best Air started the awaiting Singapore flight on Monday & from Tuesday the Kuala Lumpur Flight.

Best Air already got the permission to operate flights to Kolkata, Chennai, Kunming, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Best Aviation started operations in 1999 as a Helicopter operator, pioneering this service in Bangladesh and started its journey as a Freighter Airline beginning 2000.

Best Air has been operating different types of freighter in the Domestic & International Sectors. Best Air obtained License in 2006 from Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh to operate Passenger Service in the International and Domestic Sectors. This Airline has a team of Professional Multinationals ensuring safe International Standard flights for the passengers. Best Air has also developed a strong base in the total Aviation Business and offers a varied range of Aviation Services including Aircraft Sourcing, Emergency Evacuation of Patients and VIP Aircraft Mobilisation.

Lankan envoy calls for tapping Colombo-Dhaka trade potentials

UNB, Dhaka

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh V. Krishnamoorthy Wednesday urged the business communities of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to utilise the untapped trade potentials in the two countries for mutual benefit.

"There are huge untapped potentials in the two countries that the business communities should utilise for their mutual benefit," he told a press conference of Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLBCCI) at the Dhaka Club.

SLBCCI president S. Renganathan, secretary TD Packir and executive committee member Syed Tanvir Asan also spoke at the conference.

The High Commissioner emphasised on building stronger people-to-people contact, especially between the business communities, for greater economic engagement of the two countries.

He forwarded a list of products for the convenience of businessmen of the two countries so they could easily identify the products of their export-import interests.

Bangladesh, the Sri Lankan envoy said, can export pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products, and cement to Sri Lanka while Sri Lanka can export coconut, edible oil, spices, yarn, prefabricated buildings, aluminium wire and confectioneries such as chocolate and biscuits.

SLBCCI president Renganathan stressed the need for signing an FTA (free trade agreement) between the two countries to benefit both countries in terms of enhanced trade, investment and services.

Chamber secretary Packir announced a seven-point action plan of the bi-national trade body for 2008-09 to promote bilateral trade and economic interest.

The plan includes measures like strengthening the trade relationship, promoting FDI (foreign direct investment), tourism, direct air and shipping links, and ensuring FTA between the two countries.

SLBCCI executive committee member Tanvir Asan offered businessmen in Bangladesh, particularly the young ones, all out cooperation of the chamber to do business with Sri Lanka.

Bangladeshi Publications get distributorship from Indian publishers

BUSINESS REPORTER

Three leading Bangladeshi publication groups get distributorship from Indian six renowned publication houses recently.

The Bangladeshi publication houses are 'Nabarun Publication" World Book Distributions Centre' and 'Boi Bilash' were given the sole distributorship from Indian Publication houses namely Oxford India, Orient Blackswan (Formerly Orient-Longman), Dreamland, Allied, Nelson and S Chand and Company.

A Press Conference on "Marketing of English Medium Books Published by Oxford India, Orient Blackswan (Formerly Orient-Longman), Dreamland, Allied, Nelson & s. Chand in Bangladesh" was held Sunday at the conference room of the National Press Club.

The Indian publication houses have given the copyright of English Medium books to the three Bangladeshi publication houses.

Regional Manager of Orient Blackswan Sonali Sengupta addressed the conference, while Bangladeshi publishers, Director of 'Nabarun Publication' MA Yosuf; Chief Advisor. Prof Dr. Dewar MA Sajjad, Managing Director MD. Mozibur Rahman, Proprietor of 'World Book Distributions Centre' MD Anwar Hossain, Proprietor of 'Boi Bilash' MD. Sirajul Islam and Shamim Ahmed, Chairman of the local agent of these distributors 'Kashbon Publications and Distributions Ltd' were present.

Shonali said that Orient would publish low-priced Bangladesh edition of English medium textbook considering the economic condition of Bangladesh. She urged to maintain copyright of their publication.

Mozibur Rahman said they would be developing textbook for English medium schools on Bangladeshi context, history and geography.

DBBL's plastic surgery operation at Chowmuhani

BUSINESS REPORT

Dutch-Bangia Bank Limited accomplished a 4 day-log plastic surgery operation camp at Chowmuhani, Noakhali to bring back enduring smile on the faces of the poor cleft-lipped boys and girls at the bank's own cost recently.

The operations camp was conducted by the 12 members' surgery team headed by eminent plastic surgeon Prof AJM Salek at Nabila General Hospital, Chowmuhani, Noakhali.

About 200 cleft-lipped boys and girls have been enlisted for operation and out of which 100 were successfully operated at this programme and the rest will be operated very soon.

Managing Director of Dutch-Bangia Bank Md. Yeasin Ali along with Dr. Mozammel Hossain Khan, Medical Consultant of the Bank visited the plastic surgery operation camp and inquired about the operated cleft-lipped boys and girls at the hospital. The parents of cleft-lipped boys and girls, journalists, among others of local doctors and Prof AJM Salek and the elite people of the town were present during their visit.

FBCCI and Philippine Chamber sign MoU to promote bilateral trade

UNB, Dhaka

The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Manila to further promote bilateral trade between the two countries.

Abu Alam Chowdhury, Vice President of FBCCI, and Edgardo G Lacson, President of PCCI, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

A 12-member Bangladesh delegation, headed by the FBCCI president, is now in Manila to attend the three-day 22nd Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) conference which started Wednesday.

On first day of the conference, Bangladesh was elected Vice President of the CACCI, said a message received here Thursday.

The MoU envisaged, among other things, establishment of the Bangladesh-Philippine Business Council in Dhaka and the Philippine-Bangladesh Business Council in Manila to give a boost in investment and both way trade between the two countries.

The present trade volume of both way trade is only approximately US$ 35 million.

BRAC Bank inaugurates its Mymensingh Branch

BRAC Bank Limited has inaugurated its Mymensingh Branch to 4/B, Shymacharan Roy Road, Notun Bazar, Mymensingh-2200. Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali, Chairman, BRAC Bank Limited inaugurated the branch on October 21. A. E. A. Muhaimen, Managing Director & CEO, BRAC Bank; Firoz Ahmed Khan, Head of Retail Banking; Abedur Rahman Sikder, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs; other senior officials of BRAC Bank, local dignitaries and a large number of bank's customers were also present in the event. The branch has an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) to provide 24-hour cash withdrawal facility for its controllers. With this, BRAC Bank has 37 Branches, 94 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), 15 Cash Deposit Machines (COMs), more than 783 Point of Sales (POS), 428 SME Unit Offices and more than 1800 Remittance Delivery Points across the country.

BAF flight safety seminar held

BUSINESS Report

A two-day first flight safety seminar of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) concluded at Falcon Hall, BAF Base Bashar in the city yesterday.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman attended the closing session as chief guest and distributed certificates among 16 participants.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the sharing of experience and information is the better and easier way of achieving flight safety.

A substantial improvement in the flight safety scenario may be achieved by carefully monitoring accident trends and identifying the cause, said Air chief.

Representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Army Aviation, Bangladesh Navy, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, Atomic Energy Commission, BUET, Padma Oil Company, Bangladesh Biman Airlines Ltd, Flying Academy and other civil airlines participated in the seminar.

The aim of the seminar was to share knowledge and experience among the concerned members to enhance flight safety.

Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations and Training) Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari inaugurated seminar on Wednesday.

Tk 1000 notes to be released on Monday

UNB, Dhaka

A new currency note valued Tk 1000 hits country' s money market Monday as Bangladesh Bank Thursday formally announced the issuance of the note of the highest denomination.

BB executive director Khandakar Mujharul Haque announced the introduction of the new note--200 million pieces in the first go. The notes have been printed by Bangladesh Security Printing Corporation (BSPC).

"The notes will be released from the BB Motijheel office on Monday and later from all offices of the central bank gradually," he told journalists at the press conference.

BSPC managing director Abdullah Al Mamun and senior executives were presented at the press conference.

The note is a little larger in size than other notes in circulation while the colour is reddish-violet. Besides many other security features of the note, signed by BB governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, it bears pictures of Shaheed Minar on the front and Curzon Hall of Dhaka University on the back.

The cause of blind people was also considered in minting the new note as they would easily feel five circles printed on the right side of the note after touching the taka.

Muslim Miah, a designer of BSPC, has designed the new 1000-taka note. "Currency in circulation has doubled in ten years," Haque said explaining the need for issuing the note of highest denomination. Replying to a question, he said no country in the world could assure that their notes would not be faked. "We tried our best," he said. Replying to another query, Mamun said each of the notes cost Tk 3-4 for minting.

Citibank holds training on SWIFT

BUSINESS REPORT

Citibank, NA Bangladesh recently organised a 2-daylong training on "SWIFT" (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) in Dhaka designed to meet the needs of the Financial Institution clients.

The core objective of this training programme was to give an in-depth understanding to the clients on SWIFT and provide an update on the latest S'WIFT solutions for banks. Citibank being the first to implement SWIFT for clients globally arranged this session for the participants to discuss on its newest services and solutions in the Global Clearing Payments business.

Elizabeth Kusuma, from SWIFT, conducted the training programme that was attended by 28 senior officials from different banks. Other than Citibank, NA Bangladesh, the participating banks included Al Arafah Islami Bank Limited, EXIM Bank Limited, Prime Bank Limited, United Commercial Bank Limited, Mercantile Bank, Limited Mutual Trust Bank Limited, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, Standard bank Limited, BRAC Bank Limited. Tawfiq Ali, Head of Financial Institutions along other senior Officials from Citibank was also present. Certificates were distributed among the participants upon completion of the training.