M. Moniruzzaman Khandaker, chairman of Midland Bank, cutting a cake at a press conference on Thursday at its Head Office ahead of the bank's 2nd anniversary of commercial operations.

Fourth-generation private commercial bank Midland Bank Limited (MDB) has promised to offer quality services with enhanced customer focus as it steps into the third year.

"We promise to provide quality banking service with enhanced customer focus and innovate a wide variety of need-based products with popular solutions in our third year," managing director & CEO of the bank Md. Ahsan-uzZaman said.

He was speaking at a meet the press on Thursday at its head office, organised on the occasion of celebrating the 2nd anniversary of commercial operations tomorrow (Saturday).

Deputy managing director of bank Khondoker Nayeemul Kabir and other high officials of the Bank were also present at the press meet.   

While delivering his speech, the managing director said the bank has collected Tk 12.48 billion (1,248 crore) in deposits and Tk 9.08 billion in advance through its 11 branches around the country in the last two years of its operation.

The bank opened 18, 318 accounts by this time. When asked if the performance is satisfactory, he said the MDB does not want to do 'aggressive' banking.

"We believe in slow, steady and sustainable progress," he said.

The bank introduced a number of innovative and attractive deposit and loan schemes for its customers, also introduced internet banking and VISA-branded debit and credit cards.

The managing director reiterated the bank's commitment in providing modern and customer- friendly services to its customers.

The bank's endeavor will continue in bringing more friendly, customised and attractive products for a better client experience, he said.

"We seek to be the first choice of our customers as a distinct financial service provider, trusted, respected and valued by all stakeholders within the region and beyond pursuing an endless voyage towards excellence in every respect," he said.

He also said MDB wants to expand its service through agent banking.

"We want to reach unbanked people through agent banking as MDB would not have many branches," he added.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has evinced interest to provide at least USD 6 billion support for regional connectivity, particularly for road transport and railway network in Bangladesh, officials said.
ERD joint secretary (ADB wing) Saifuddin Ahmed told the Independent that ADB was interested in hiking support for regional connectivity in South Asia to boost trade and commerce.
The support will come under the country partnership programme for the next three years from 2016 to 2018. Under this programme, ADB will give priority to enhancement of skills as well as the quality and delivery of secondary education, energy efficiency and supply expansion, and renewable energy.
As part of the country mission, a meeting between the ERD and ADB is scheduled to be held on June 22.
Since 2010, the ADB-assisted South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme has been supporting the regional transport connectivity agenda of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal by helping them to implement priority projects identified under the SAARC and BIMSTEC frameworks.
ADB has also helped in the revival of the SASEC Trade Facilitation and Transport Working Group (TFTWG) to plan, prepare, and monitor progress of priority projects on sub-regional transport.
ADB will provide support to implement five projects under SASEC connectivity. It will provide support to implement Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar new railway link (100 km) Phase-I in 2016 and railway sector investment programme. In 2017, the Manila-based lender will give support for SASEC road connectivity project II—Hatirkamrul –Rangpur-Burimari four-lane and additional financing for cost overrun of SASEC roads. In 2016, it will provide loan for second phase of Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar new railway link. In 2018, ADB will provide loan for the Dhaka-Chittagong dual gauging (230 Km), including Dhirasram ICD, access to the Chittagong Port, and a new workshop in Chittagong.
For energy sector development, ADB will provide against 12 projects, including “natural gas development and distribution project”; “rural hydropower system project (50 MW, composed by distributed PV small wind, small hydro, biomass)”; “second power system expansion and efficiency improvement programme”; and “grid connected solar PV plants 200 MWp, 100 MWp PV plant in Sonargaji-BPDB, 100 MWp PV plant Feni NWPGCL”.

Besides, the ADB would provide support for six projects in the education sector, six projects in the finance sector, and eight projects in the agriculture, natural resources and rural development sector.

Habibur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of Prime Bank and Ashwani Nayar, General Manager of Le Méridien Dhaka sign MoU at the hotel premises on Thursday. Prime Bank\'s JCB cardholders can enjoy \"Buy One Get One Free\" offer on Buffet Iftar and Sehr