Six BASIC Bank officials suspended
Six high officials of BASIC Bank were suspended yesterday on charges of irregularities.
However, the officials pointed at others inside the bank for the irregularities.
“Everybody, from officials inside the bank to the central bank, knows about the irregularities and the loans that were given out that even the branches opposed to,” said one of six officials suspended, seeking anonymity.
The suspended officials are Monaem Khan, deputy managing director; three general managers -- Zainul Abedin Choudhury, Kh Shamim Hasan and Mohammad Ali; Shipar Ahmed, deputy general manager; and Zahid Hasan, deputy manager.
The officials said they were suspended to protect the actual culprits. The bank has been in the news in the last few years for granting thousands of crores of taka in loans without proper scrutiny and collateral.
Noted citizens reject new Grameen Bank rules
A group of noted citizens yesterday protested the newly scripted rules of picking directors for Grameen Bank, saying the regulations have taken away power from its majority shareholders, the rural women.
They called for unity to protect the interest of the bank's 85 lakh members who own 75 percent shares of the Noble Peace Prize-winning lender, while the rest 25 percent is owned by the government.
Their protest was in response to the Grameen Bank (Election of Directors) Rules 2014 published by the government on April 6.
"The government is plotting to get hold of the Tk 14,000 crore the Grameen Bank members have deposited with the bank," said Rafiqul Islam, a language movement veteran.
"We have to do everything within our means so the government can't do it," he said at a programme organised by the Bangladesh Projonmo Academy, a pro-BNP platform, at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Islam alleged that the problem related to Grameen Bank is the personal problem of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Tuhin Malik, a noted lawyer, said the new rules are an attempt to rob the micro-lender in a digitised way.
The rules will disempower the 85 lakh members of Grameen Bank in order to entertain the arrogance of one woman, he said without mentioning the name of the woman.
Sadek Khan, a columnist, said the government is not honouring normal business practices in the world.
"Everywhere in the world, the shareholders pick their board members. But in case of Grameen Bank, the majority shareholders are not being able to do so."
"As a result, the fundamental rights of the shareholders are being violated," he said.
M Munir-uz-Zaman, a former secretary, said: "The rules have been formulated to install hand-picked directors in the board of Grameen Bank."
The new rules have empowered the central bank to organise elections to elect nine members in the 12-member board.
BCB holds workshop on prevention of money laundering
Bangladesh Commerce Bank (BCB) organised a workshop on “Prevention of Money Laundering and Combating Terrorist Financing” for the bank’s 4th batch.
Bangladesh Commerce Bank Training Institute arranged the workshop in Dhaka recently, said a press release.
Dhaka Bank approves cash, stock dividends
Abdul Hai Sarker, Chairman of Dhaka Bank Ltd, presides over the 19th annual general meeting of the bank in Dhaka on Thursday. Dhaka Bank approved 17 percent cash and 5 percent stock dividends for its shareholders for the year ended on 31st December, 2013.
The approval came at the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank held in Dhaka on Thursday, said a press release.
Abdul Hai Sarker, Chairman of Dhaka Bank, presided over the meeting.
Founder and Director Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, former vice-chairperson and sponsor shareholder Afroza Abbas, former chairman and Director Reshadur Rahman, Directors Altaf Hossain Sarker, Mohammed Hanif, Md Amirullah, Abdullah Al Ahsan, Tahidul Hossain Chowdhury, Khondoker Jamil Uddin, Mirza Yasser Abbas, Amanullah Sarker, Independent Director Suez Islam and Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed, Managing Director Niaz Habib and former managing director Khondker Fazle Rashid attended the meeting.
Deputy Managing Directors Neaz Mohammad Khan, Emranul Huq, Khan Shahadat Hossain, Company Secretary Arham Masudul Huq and a good number of shareholders were present on the occasion.
UCB approves 20pc dividends
The 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of United Commercial Bank Limited was held at Hotel Ocean Paradise in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday.
M A Hashem, Chairman of the bank presided over the AGM, said a press release.
During the AGM, 20 percent cash dividend was approved for the shareholders of the bank for the year 2013.
Chairman said that UCB had generated attractive financial results in previous years. The bank gained a tremendous growth in every arena like operating profit, loans and advances, deposit etc, he added.
He also expressed that UCB will be continuing to serve the interest of shareholders, clients and the communities as well.
Sharif Zahir, Vice Chairman, Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Chairman, Executive Committee, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abu Tayeb Muhammad Zahirul Alam, Chairman, Audit Committee, M. A. Sabur, Chairman, Risk Management Committee, Showkat Aziz Russell, Md. Jahangir Alam Khan, Yunus Ahmed, M. A. Kalam, Md. Tanvir Khan, Asifuzzaman Chowdhury, Sultana Rezia Begum, Shabbir Ahmed and Ahmed Arif Billah, Directors of the bank were present at the AGM.
UCB Managing Director, Muhammed Ali, in his speech, sketched the backdrop of success and the cumulative scenario of achievement of the bank. He told that UCB developed a balanced and sustainable business model against all obstacles through organic growth.
The AGM was conducted by Mirza Mahmud Rafiqur Rahman, Additional Managing Director and Company Secretary of the bank.