The New Nation - Internet Edition

Western Marine begins keel-laying of 12 ships: Commerce Adviser to inaugurate the ceremony today

CHITTAGONG, Our Correspondent

Bangladesh's leading Shipbuilding Company Western Marine Shipyard Limited begins the keel-laying of 12 ocean going ships today for export to a German firm.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, the honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Commerce is expected to inaugurate the keel-laying ceremony of the 12 ships, a milestone in the history of Bangladesh, at the shipyard of Western Marine at Patia in Chittagong. The capacity of the ships would be around 5,200 tons each.

The Western Marine authorities believe that with government support and resolving the existing bottlenecks, the nascent shipbuilding industry will be able to contribute largely in country's economy.

Sk. A. K. Motahar Hossain, secretary, ministry of shipping, Mrs, Bea M. Ten Tusscher, Ambassador of Netherland, Frank Meyke, Ambassador of Germany and Kaiser A Chowdhury, President and managing director of AB Bank Limited are also expected to present at the keel-laying ceremony as special guests.

Dhaka Bank gets ICAB National Award 2007

Dhaka Bank has recently received ICAB National Award 2007 for their published Accounts & Reports. Dhaka Bank Limited secured Certificate of Merit in the financial sector for best-published accounts & reports.

Managing Director (Current Charge) of Dhaka Bank Limited Mohammad Abu Musa received the award from Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam, Adviser for Commerce, Finance, Planning, Posts and Telecommunication, at 8th ICAB National Awards 2008 ceremony organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC)' on December 04, 2008. A total of 19 financial, non-financial and non-government organizations and public sector entities received the awards this year.

Citi launches direct custody, clearing in Bangladesh

Citibank, N.A. recently launched Direct Custody and Clearing (DCC) services in Bangladesh which is aimed to provide better support to its global clients and channel more foreign portfolio investments into the emerging Bangladesh capital market.

Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi, Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission attended the program as chief guest and James F Moriarty, United States Ambassador to Bangladesh attended the program as guest of honor.

The programme was also attended by senior officials from SEC, Bangladesh Bank and Citibank's clients in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, Citibank will provide direct custody and clearing services such as equity and fixed income securities settlements, safekeeping, pre-matching, registration, corporate actions, income collection, proxy services, cash management, foreign exchange, reporting, market expertise and information services to its clients.

Citibank will also continue its partnership with Bangladesh regulators and exchanges to advise on best practices and provide support for trading and investment activities in this market.

SJIBL offshore banking unit opened at DEPZ

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Shahjalal Islami Bank Ltd (SJIBL) has begun 'offshore banking' at the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ).

The Offshore Banking Unit (OBU) of the bank was inaugurated at the DEPZ on Sunday.

SJIBL board of directors chairman Akkas Uddin Mollah inaugurated the unit as the chief guest.

A-category industrial units of the DEPZ and expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to take the direct services of the newly opened OBU. Both deposit and investments with US dollar, Euro, pound sterling, yen, Canadian dollar and Swiss Franc could be made in the OBU. Besides, term investment, letter of credit, export-import and guarantee can be issued in foreign exchange in the SJIBL Unit.

The opening ceremony was also addressed, among others, by Vice Chairmen Alhaj Mohammad Faruk and Syed Nurul Arefeen, Directors Engineer Mohd Touhidur Rahman, Mohd Solaiman, managing director Mohammad Ali and general manager of Azizur Rahman.

SJIBL board of directors chairman Akkas Uddin Mollah in his speech said the newly opened OBU would provide state-of-the-art banking facilities to the foreign investors.

He said SJBL has continued its contribution to the economic, development of the country.

Managing director Mohammad Ali said the service network of SJIBL has expanded worldwide and now the bank has 600 correspondence relationships with 287 renowned banks in the whole world.

He said as a new generation private commercial bank, the SJIBL has already earned. confidence of the depositors and investors due to its strong commitment and dedication.

EBL opens 32nd branch at Keraniganj

Eastern Bank Ltd (EBL) has opened its 32nd branch at Keraniganj, Dhaka.

EBL Managing Director and CEO Ali Reza Iftekhar inaugurated the newest member of EBL's growing branch network. Other than regular banking the branch will offer ATM service, Online Banking, SME Banking and other modern services to the customers.

EBL DMD Mamoon Mahmood Shah, Head of Administration Major Abdus Salam psc (Retd), Consumer Banking Area Head Md. Saad Ullah, Head of Marketing Nazeem A Choudhury, senior EBL officials and local dignitaries attended the inaugural ceremony.

Australia gives funds for safe drinking water, sanitation

Staff Reporter

The Australian High Commission has announced the granting of BDT 14lac under its Direct Aid Program (DAP) 2008-09 to two Bangladeshi NGOs, Society for People's Actions in Change and Equity (SPACE) and Jano Sheba Kendra (JSK).

SPACE will spend its share of seven lac taka to provide arsenic-free safe drinking water to families of three villages in Manikganj through low cost and non chemical-based water treatment. About 3000 people including vulnerable children and women from the three villages will benefit from this project. Earlier this year, SPACE successfully installed 120 ecologically friendly toilets with DAP funding in Manikganj and Gazipur.

JSK has received a total of Tk 6.98lac to provide hygienic sanitation facilities in five schools in Raipur Upazilla, Lakshrnipur district. Along with providing sanitation facilities, JSK will also raise awareness about good hygiene practices among school children and organize advocacy meetings and workshops for members of the community as a whole.

The Australian High Commissioner, Douglas Foskett, handed over cheques to Mr Azhar Ali Pramanik, Executive Director of SPACE, and to Mrs Nasreen Sultana, Executive Director of JSK this morning at his office. Mr. Foskett said that safe drinking water and improved health standards among school children are things we take for granted in Australia - I am very happy to support these projects which provide inexpensive solutions for critical issues facing the people of Bangladesh.

Southeast Bank opens branch in Gazipur

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Southeast Bank Limited (SEBL) opened its 45th branch at Konabari in Gazipur recently, said a press release.

Former chairman and current Director of SEBL Azim Uddin Ahmed formally inaugurated the branch as the chief guest.

Also present at the inaugural ceremony were SEBL directors Jusna Ara Kashem, Duluma Ahmed and Sirat Monira, Independent Director Dr Zaidi Sattar, former director Rehana Rahman, Shari'ah Council member Moulana Abdul Hakim Azadi and Managing Director Neaz Ahmed along with its senior executives, local elite, businessmen, shop owners, industrialists, government officials, educationists and professionals.

Head of the branch of the bank Mamunur Rashid gave vote of thanks in the function.

Former chairman Ahmed gave assurance that the dwellers and the businessmen of the area would be given banking service from the SEBL branch with the help of modern technology.

Independent director Sattar informed the audience that Southeast Bank was a service industry of prominence.

SEBL managing director highlighted the bank's overall performance over the years, its products features and urged the local people to avail modern banking facilities from the branch.

Aktel offers 'Push Mail' service

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Mobile phone operator Aktel has launched 'Push Mail' service for its postpaid users to make their communication more convenient and easier.

The service was announced at a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday.

With the service, users can send or receive emails with any handset.

They will be able to receive e-mails from several accounts to a single inbox without having to log in multiple times, also view and download attachments, said a press release.

Aktel's managing director and chief executive officer Jefri Ahmad Tambi, chief commercial officer Bidyut Kumar Basu, and senior officials were present at the press conference, added the release.

Int'l construction exhibition in Dhaka in March

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

An international construction exhibition will be held in the city in March, 2009.

Construction companies from 16 countries will participate in the convention to be held from March 4 to 7.

This was revealed at the 'registration launching session of 37th International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors' Associations (IFAWPCA) at the Jatiya Press Club Saturday.

The exhibition is expected to bring better recognition to Bangladesh as a business-friendly investment destination,

Bangladesh Association of Construction Industry (BACI), the premier body of all the construction-related firms of the country, will host the convention themed 'Construction for a greener world'. Alongside the convention, they will organise International Construction Exhibition 2009, an exhibition where the local and international construction firms will showcase their products and services.

High officials of BACI said more than 300 foreign delegates, who are the leaders of reputed construction firms of the world and construction industry professionals will attend the convention to see first hand the quality and the extent of construction works that have been going on in Bangladesh.

The convention which is expected to address key issues concerning the construction sector and the methods to achieve the goal commences on March 4 and ends on March 7.

The registration process of international construction exhibition was inaugurated at the ceremony by registering Dynamic Skafolding and Equipment Company from Kolkata and local firm Adex Engineering Ltd. Memorandum of understanding was also signed with Spellbound as the convention manager and Camair Tours as the official tour partner. An official website for 37th IFAWPCA convention was also launched on this occasion.

BACI is currently holding two of the senior posts of IFAWPCA. Aminul Islam, chairman of Project Builders Ltd., and Mir Zahir Hossain, chairman of Mir Group, were elected the president and the secretary general respectively for the term 2007-2009 during the 36th IFAWPCA convention held in Gold Coast, Australia in November 2007.

IFAWPCA president Aminul Islam said in his speech that the BACI Construction Industry Exhibition 2009 would be organised to showcase the achievements of the local construction sector. Many reputed international firms will take part in the exhibition. The exhibition will attract many foreign visitors and help bring much needed overseas investment to the local construction industry, he expressed the hope.

IFAWPCA Secretary General Mir Zahir Hossain, BACI President Md Rafiqul Islam and its Vice-President Shafiqul Bhuiyan and Director of Spellbound M Sadequl Arefeen also spoke on the occasion.

BACI President Rafiqul Islam said this convention is a very important one for Bangladesh and much depends on its successful completion. Therefore, proper planning and preparation have been going on to make the convention a memorable one, he added.

Engr Selim re-elected Gulshan Club president

In a landslide victory Engr Faizul Islam Selim was re-elected as President of Gulshan Club for the year 2008- 2009 in the annual general meeting followed by election held on December 19 last at the club premises.

Ten members of the executive committee elected are Ms Sabera Ahmed (Koli), Naveed Alam, Riaz ur Rahman, Mrs Nahar Abed, Naseem Ali Khan, Alam Mahbubul, Md Abdur Rauf, AKM Iftekhar Hossain, Mohammad Shahed Masud and Engr Shafiqul H Syed.

Int'l Statistical Science Conference begins Dec 26

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

A two-day International Conference on 'Statistical Sciences' organised jointly by North South University, Bangladesh and Carleton University of Canada begins in Dhaka December 26. The conference will be inaugurated at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre by Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Governor of Bangladesh Bank.

Scientist Dr M Shamsher Ali, President of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences will be special guest.

M A Awal, Chairman of NSU, Dr Hafiz GA Siddiqi, NSU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, ICSS 2008 Executive Committee Chairman, and Dr Shahjahan Khan, International Scientific Committee will remain present at the conference as hosts. The closing ceremony of the conference will be held at Hotel Sarina from 7 pm 9 pm on December 27. Chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor Nazrul Islam will remain present as chief guest. The theme of the conference is 'Recent development in Statistical Sciences'. The Department of Career and Professional Development Services (CPDS), North South University, will organize the conference. Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Professor, School of Business, and Director, CPDS of NSU and Chair, Executive Committee ICSS 2008 is the key organizer of the conference.

Participants are expected to come from all over the world including researchers and academics as well as representatives from business, industry, and government bodies and non-government agencies.

The main objectives of the conference are to bring together established and new researchers working on various statistical topics from all over the world to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners in statistical sciences to actively share their research experiences, ideas and contributions in a stimulating environment, to forge greater cooperation between statisticians of Bangladesh origin and the rest of the world, to promote the discipline of statistics as a profession in the wider community, particularly to the decision makers, to promote interaction and understanding amongst statisticians in the world.