Leading mobile phone operator Robi Axiata Limited signed a corporate deal with Exim Bank in the city on Thursday.

Under this agreement, Robi will offer various corporate postpaid and prepaid packages along with some other value-added services to Exim Bank, said a press release.

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Robi Axiata Limited, and Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah, Managing Director (MD) of Exim Bank, signed the agreement of behalf of their respective organisations.

Nowadays, mobile phone service is not limited within voice call only, rather subscribers can avail various value-added services and attractive data offers. Moreover, corporate subscribers can enjoy more lucrative offers from operators which facilitate the staff.

AKM Nazmul Islam, Vice-President (Enterprise Business), Kazi Md Ozair, General Manager (Enterprise Business), Md Imrul Shahid, Key Account Manager of Robi Axiata Limited, and Exim Bank Deputy Managing Director M sirajul Islam, Sirajul Haque Miah and Khondoker Rumy Ehsanul Haq were also present at the signing ceremony.

LONDON: Russia’s economy will contract next year as a result of the crisis with Ukraine, the EBRD development bank forecast on Thursday after slashing its prediction for growth.

Ukraine’s economy will meanwhile contract faster than expected, in turn weighing on other emerging economies in the region, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said in its latest outlook report.

Russia’s economy will contract by 0.2 per cent in 2015, the EBRD said after predicting in May that it would expand by 0.6 per cent next year, reports AFP.

The bank, founded in 1991 to help ex-Soviet bloc countries such as Russia and Ukraine make the transition to free-market economies and democracy, maintained its forecast of zero Russian growth for this year.

“The Russian economy will come under pressure both from Western sanctions and the sanctions that Moscow has imposed on the West in response,” the EBRD said.

The United States and European Union last week hit Russia with tough new sanctions over Moscow’s “unacceptable behaviour” in Ukraine.

In some of the toughest measures yet to punish the Kremlin for allegedly fomenting the insurgency, Washington targeted Russia’s top bank Sberbank— which holds the deposits of nearly half all Russian savers—and leading energy and technology companies.

Moscow has meanwhile threatened to bar EU airlines from its airspace, and has drawn up a list targeting imports of consumer goods and second-hand cars from the West.

The EBRD added that Ukraine’s economy is predicted to shrink by 9.0 per cent this year, more than May’s forecast for a contraction of 7.0 per cent. Gross Domestic Product is set to come in at minus 3.0 per cent in 2015, the London-based institution added. 

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) and international money transfer operator Xpress Money has jointly launched a 20-day special remittance campaign on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, reports UNB.

IBBL Managing Director Mohammad Abdul Mannan at a function at the Islami Bank Tower inaugurated the campaign recently, said a press release on Thursday.

Deputy Managing Director Md Mabub-ul-Alam, Executive Vice-president Kazi Kamrul Islam, Country Manager of Xpress Money Shamim Iftakher and top executives of both organizations were present on the occasion.

Clients receiving foreign remittance through Xpress Money from Islami Bank will get a fridge every day by lottery while a coluorful spice box will be gifted to every client during the campaign period.

As per the agreement, EXIM Bank employees would be able to receive medical service from United Hospital at discount rates, said a press release.
Dr. Mohammed Haider Ali Miah, Managing Director and CEO of EXIM Bank, and Dr. Dabir Uddin Ahmed, Clinical Operation Director of United Hospital, signed an agreement.

 Primary Dealers Bangladesh Limited (PDBL) launched its own website - www.pdbl.org.bd aimed at providing relevant information like yield, prices, benefits of Government Securities (GS) to market participants and researchers.

Anis A Khan, Chairman of PDBL and Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTB) inaugurated the website as chief guest at a function held at the Head office of Sonali Bank Limited in Dhaka recently, said a press release. Bangladesh Bank has appointed 12 banks as Primary Dealers to help developing a vibrant secondary market for Government Securities. As a market maker of government securities, the primary dealers have developed their website for market participants and researchers.