The New Nation - Internet Edition

WB to give $149m loan to improve water, sanitation services in Dhaka

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

The World Bank yesterday approved a US$149 million IDA credit to Bangladesh, which will support the improvement of water supply and sanitation services to the population of Dhaka, according to a press release received from Washington.

Dhaka is one of the fastest growing megacities in the world, and its population is expected to reach nearly 22 million by 2025, up from 12 million today. This population growth is placing serious strains on the city's ability to provide basic water, sanitation and drainage services to its citizens. Delivery of these services throughout Dhaka is inadequate and uneven, but is particularly poor in slum areas.

"Poor water supply, sanitation, and drainage services hurt the poorest citizens the most," said Xian Zhu, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh. "Households in slum areas tend to rely on more costly alternative sources and alternative providers which often pose quality issues. This project aims to improve and expand these services to all people living in Dhaka, especially poor people."

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project is designed to improve sustainable delivery of storm water drainage, wastewater, and water services by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), which has the sole responsibility of providing these services in Dhaka. This will be achieved through rehabilitation, repair, and expansion of the city's sewerage network and treatment plants, and installation of stormwater pumping stations and rehabilitation of canals to help improve drainage and minimize urban flooding.

The project will also support DWASA's pilot expansion of water and sanitation services into some of Dhaka's slum areas to help increase services to the urban poor, and finance training to improve hygiene practice in the slums.

"Currently DWASA only supplies water to 70 percent of the population of the Dhaka Metropolitan Area and its suburbs," said Fook Chuan Eng, World Bank Senior Financial Analyst and Task Team Leader for the project. "The quality and quantity of service varies significantly even inside Dhaka. There are no piped distribution networks available in slum areas, where approximately 4 million people live. This project will help DWASA to bring water and sanitation services to about 305,000 poor people living in slums"

The World Bank is one of several development partners actively supporting DWASA and the provision of water, sanitation and drainage services in Dhaka.

It is envisaged that the project will be implemented in partnership and coordination with development partners in line with a Partnership Framework entered into in November 2007 by the Government of Bangladesh and development partners, which include the Asian Development Bank, the Danish International Development Agency, the Government of Japan, the Government of Korea and the World Bank.

The credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary arm, has 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period; it carries a service charge of 0.75 percent.

Pubali Bank opens 364th branch at Chauddagram

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Pubali Bank Limited has opened its 364th branch at Chauddagram, Comilla.

Member, Board of Directors of Pubali Bank Ltd Monzurur Rahman inaugurated the branch as chief guest, while Managing Director of Pubali Bank Helal Ahmed Chowdhury presided over the function.

Director of PBL Giasuddin Ahmed and Ahmed Shafi Chowdhury also attended the ceremony.

In his speech, Monzurur Rahman said that Pubali Bank is committed to providing the best and innovative banking services needs of the market in fastest possible time. As part of providing better services and clients' increasing demand Pubali Bank has opened its Chauddagram branch at Comilla.

Director Giasuddin Ahmed and Ahmed Shafi Chowdhury also delivered speeches at the function. They urged all to take banking services through the Pubali Bank.

In his speech, Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said that Pubali Bank had been providing better services to its customers since 1959 with a promise to keep up its original tradition.

He also said, PBL gives priority to provide opportunity and advantage to the customers through application of modern technologies. Referring to the efficient management, accumulated deposit and adequate foreign currency reserve, he said that Pubali Bank is capable of contributing more and more to industrialization and foreign trade of the country.

Referring to the advantage of the scheme of "Non Resident Credit," he said that one can take financial help through this scheme who goes abroad for employment.

He also said Bangladeshi expatriates can remit their money through Pubali Bank swiftly and safely. He urged all customers of Comilla region to take this opportunity. He expressed his hope- this branch would remarkable contribution in the business development of this area. He also urged all the local people for extending co-operation to the bank.

General Manager and Chief Financial Officer ATM Hasanuzzaman, General Manager of Chittagong Region Md Firoz Khan, General Manager of CDA Branch Md Mosarraf Hossain, Regional Head of Comilla Region DGM Dilip Kumar Roy, local elite and renowned businessmen also attended the function.

IBF gives away prizes for essay competition on Zakat

Islami Bank Foundation organized a prize giving ceremony among the winners of the Essay Competition on "ZAKAT" at Mohammad Younus Auditorium of Islami Bank Tower on December 2, 2008. Prof. Abu Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher, Chairman, Board of Director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited was present as the chief guest. Presided over by Shah Abdul Hannan, former Secretary and Chairman of Islami Bank Foundation the programme was addressed by Mominul Islam Patwary, Chairman, Executive Committe of the bank, Kazi Harun-ar-Rashed, Chairman, Audit Committee and Member of IBF and Md Shahidul Islam, former director of the bank and Member of IBF as special guests. M. Fariduddin Ahmad, Managing Director of the bank presented the welcome speech.

Those who were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in the first group were Abdulla Al Hasib and Md Abdul Karim of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa and Md Sakibul Haque of Jamea Kashemia Madrasa. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners of Second Group were respectively Sheikh Safwana Zerin of Ideal School and College, Abdul Fattah of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa and Md. Kamrul Hasan of Jamea Kashemia Madrasa. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners of Third Group were respectively Sheikh Mozahid of Rajshahi University, Anisur Rahman of Jahangirnagar University and Faisal Khan of Dhaka University. The prizes were distributed among 54 students in three groups.

Prof. Abu Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher said in his speech that educated youth is the actual wealth of a country. They should be efficient and workable to be built up through proper training and employment opportunity should be created for the educated unemployed youth.

He said no nation could plan the development of economy without the development of education. The development of the country is possible through proper development of education.

He said our students and youth society is our proud. This brave and fresh youths are valuable asset of our country. So we have to be firm determined to bring back the environment of education and creativity in educational institutions. We have to present them the national ideal, history and tradition.

Shah Abdul Hannan in his speech as president said the world is now passing three major crises. These are financial, environmental and moral crisis. Only Islam can free us from this problem. He urged the students to built up themselves with the ideal of Islam.

He said that students are the future of our 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. He laid importance upon giving jakat of the wealthy people and creating employment facilities for the unemployed people with it.

Consecutive seminars on 'Crop specific fertiliser tech for tea'

Northern Agro Services Ltd and the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility of the International Finance Corporation (IFC-SEDF) jointly conducted a campaign for promoting organic fertiliser use in Bangladesh's tea sector from November 22 to 29 last.

As a part of this campaign, three seminars on the benefits of using organic fertilizer for tea cultivation were held in Moulvibazar, Srimangal and Chittagong. Two eminent agriculturists, Dr. Sadrul Amin and Mohammad Mazedul, spoke at all three events.

They highlighted how the use of organic fertilizer leads to greater yields, reduces costs and improves soil health.

Satisfied customers, who have already used the organic product to grow tea, delivered testimonials on its effectiveness.

The seminars were attended by tea-estate managers and senior officials of major tea companies.

Representatives from Northern Agro Services Ltd and IFC-SEDF were also present.

Inauguration of G-gas station at Malibag held

A ribbon cutting ceremony of G-gas station, a join venture project of POLWEL and Energypac Power Generation Ltd was held at Malibag roundabout in the city November 23 last.

Inspector General Nur Mohammad, Deputy Inspector Nobobekrom Tripura of Bangladesh Police, Director General of RAB Hasan Mahmud Khandakar, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed along with other high officials of Bangladesh Police were present.

Besides, Managing Director Engineer Rabiul Alam, Executive Director Enamul H Chowdhury, and Director Engr Nurul Aktar of Energypac Power Generation Ltd were present on the occasion.

East West University observes World AIDS Day

East West University, in association with UNFPA, organised a day long awareness building programme against AIDS on December 1, 2008 on its campus.

The message of the day was "Lead, Empower and Deliver." Keep the promise.

A seminar was organized on the same day at the university auditorium, where Jalaluddin Ahmed, President, Board of Directors of East West University was present as chief guest while Professor Mohammed Sharif, Vice Chancellor of the university was the Program Chair.

Aly Zaker, Managing Director and CEO, Asiatic Marketing Communications Ltd, was special guest. Ahmed Farooque, Executive Director, Chesta and HIV/AIDS Focal Point, Rotary International District 3280 Bangladesh presented the keynote paper at the seminar.

A signature campaign and human chain were formed to mark the programme on the university campus. Students, faculty members and the employees of the university took part the program in order to raise awareness against HIV/AIDS.

Capital Market Journalists' Forum to be launched today

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Dhaka based working reporters, who report on Bangladesh capital market, formally launches a forum styled "Capital Market Journalists' Forum (CMJF)" today to safeguard interests and enhance the professional skill of its members.

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr. A. B. Mirza Md. Azizul Islam is scheduled to attend the launching ceremony at Radisson Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka as chief guest.

Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi, Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission, and Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, will be present at the ceremony as special guests.

Abdul Haque, President of Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd, Nasir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Stock Exchange Ltd, and Ziaul Haque Khondker, Managing Director of Investment Corporation of Bangladesh, will attend the function as guests of honour.

The event is also expected to bring together headline makers and leaders in their fields, from the business world to policymakers.

The CMJF is a visionary forum and dedicated to promote professional journalism through holding regular training programmes, workshop and seminars, conducting market research and organising investors' awareness programmes.

PRAN's training on Cooking, Nutrition, Beauty Care held

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

A four-day long free training programme on cooking, nutrition and beauty care comes to an end on November 30 last. 'PRAN Powder Spice' arranged the programme in four different venues in the capital that started from November 26 last at BIAM auditorium in Eskaton in the city. The second day's programme was arranged at Mayuri Community Centre at Section 11 of Mirpur on November 27 and the third day's programme was arranged at White Hall and caters at Section 3 of Uttara, Dhaka on November 29. The concluding programme was arranged at WVA auditorium at Dhanmondi in the city.

Huge number of women of different age groups gathered all the venues on scheduled dates with cheerful and festive mood. The participants from various parts of the city share their opinion with PRAN Powder Spice, the prominent brand of powder spice in the country. All the programmes consist of quiz competition, raffle draw and various interactive programmes.

Renowned actress, director and recipe specialist Nima Rahman presented various delicious and mouthwatering recipes while Zannatul Ferdous Bonna, nutritionist of BIRDEM spoke about of balanced diet with proper nutrition for maintain physical fitness. On the other hand beautician Shirin Sultana gives attractive tips and tricks of beauty care. All the programs followed by cultural show where singer Badhon, Arif and others performed.

The programme was arranged to make bridge between consumers and manufacturers as well as to hear observations and comments from consumer's point of view. These kinds of interactive programs will continue as previous, representative from PRAN Powder Spice informed.