Bank Asia organised three-day long foundation training for its 35 officers in an effort to improve their professional efficiency.

A Rouf Chowdhury, Chairman of the bank, handed over certificates to the participants at the concluding ceremony held at Bank Asia Institute for Training and Development at Rangs Bhaban in Dhaka on Monday, said a press release.

Mohammad Borhanuddin, Senior EVP and Head of ICCD, Md. Sazzad Hossain, EVP and Head of Scotia Branch, Mamun Mahmud, Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources Division were, among others, present.

 Southeast Bank Limited (SEBL) and The Farmers Bank Limited have signed an agreement on Product and Network Sharing at SEBL’s head office recently.

This Product and Network Sharing agreement will facilitate beneficiaries (receivers) of foreign inward remittances in Bangladesh, said a press release.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Thursday launched two new credit schemes to help students and women buy computers.

Governor Dr Atiur Rahman inaugurated the schemes at a programme at the central bank headquarters in the capital city.

Under the refinancing credit schemes named “Student Power” and She Power”, students and women would get cheaper loan from banks to buy laptops and desktop computers. But the purchasing should be done online.

The loan, with as low as 10 per cent interest, should be repayable in installments within two years after the purchase. The borrower students and women will require arranging 20 per cent of the total price of the computer as down payment.

Trust Bank will channelize necessary funds for the credit programmes when the Dell Bangladesh will supply the laptops and desktop computers. An e-marketing company - Amar Desh, Amar Gram (my country, my village) will provide the online platform for the purchase (www.amardeshamargram.com).

Addressing the occasion, Dr Atiur said this kind of initiative with participation from other banks and institutions would help students and women use information technology and would eventually help increase income from outsourcing.

BB’s executive director Dasgupta Asim Kumar, Trust Bank managing director Ishtiaque Ahmed Chowdhury and Dell Bangladesh country manager Sonia Bashir Kabir attended the programme, presided over by general manager of BB’s SME and Special Programme Department Md. Masum Patwary.

Agencies under Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) will have the access across the country to use Southeast Bank's online banking facility to collect Hajj related fees and expenses of the Hajj pilgrims.

The Hajj pilgrims from remote rural areas of the country will also be able to deposit their Hajj related different fees to the respective accounts of their travel agencies at any nearby branches of Southeast Bank which will automatically be deposited through the online banking facility. HAAB will coordinate the whole process between the Hajj pilgrims and the bank.

In this connection, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Southeast Bank Limited and HAAB in the city on Wednesday, said a press statement.

Managing Director of Southeast Bank Shahid Hossain and President of HAAB Ibrahim Bahar signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

Southeast Bank will also issue Prepaid Hajj Card without any charge to the HAAB members. The bank will issue Visa Credit Card (Dual Currency) without any annual membership fee for pilgrims. HAAB members will also be able to withdraw money from any ATM Booth in Saudi Arabia by using Visa Credit /Hajj Card.

Additional Managing Director Mohammed Gofran, Deputy Managing Director (DMD) & Head of Islamic Banking Division Muhammad Shahjahan, DMDs SM Mainuddin Chowdhury, Giash Uddin Ahmed and M Kamal Hossain of Southeast Bank Limited and Secretary General Sheikh Abdullah and other high officials of HAAB were present on the occasion, among others.

News:The Tinancial Express/06-Mar-2014

The preliminary approved companies are CAPM Venture Capital and Finance Ltd and Meridian Finance and Investment Ltd.

The central bank has primarily approved the licence of two new non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) with a view to diversify the financial activities across the country.

The preliminary approved new companies are CAPM Venture Capital and Finance Ltd and Meridian Finance

and Investment Ltd. Bangladesh Bank (BB) yesterday approved the two new financial institutions at its 350th

board meeting which was presided over by the BB governor Atiur Rahman. The central bank deputy governor

SK Sur Chowdhury disclosed the matter to the reporters. Mahmud Hossain owns the CAPM Venture Capital and

Finance Ltd while Kazi Aminul Islam is the owner of the Meridian Finance and Investment Ltd. The central

bank deputy governor informed the reporters that the stakeholders of the two companies had submitted their

business plans to the central bank. The authority of the central bank, sources said, hailed business plans of

booth the companies. The finance ministry also recommended the approval of the new financial institutions.

After completing all formalities, the central bank primarily approved licence of the two new financial

institutions having paid up capital of Tk 100 crore. The two companies like other non-bank financial

institutions filled up all the condition, also said the deputy governor. Expressing about the business plan of

CAPM, the deputy governor said that the company would invest their money to import various kinds of

machineries.
On the other hand, the Meridian Finance and Investment Ltd will work for the development of country’s

infrastructural as well as boosting up the private sector. The central bank primarily has imposed a total of 31

conditions for the two financial intuitions.   Currently, a total of 33 non-bank financial institutions including the two new institutions are operating their business activities across the country. 

After completing the registration procedure from Register of Joint Stock Company and Firms (RJSC), the two

companies will formulate their company activities, also said the deputy governor and adding that the central

bank then finally approved the license of the two financial institutions as per company act 32.  Bangladesh

bank will permit to open their branches to judge their memorandum of articles whether it is capable or not.