The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Bangladesh, in collaboration with International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh, recently organised a trade workshop for its clients.

The workshop extensively focused on training trade professionals on globally accredited trade standards – UCP 600 and Incoterms 2010. HSBC is the first bank in Bangladesh to organise such workshop on the topics for its clients, said a press release.

The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP) is a set of rules on the issuance and use of letters of credit. The UCP is utilised by bankers and commercial parties in more than 175 countries in trade finance.

The Incoterms rules or International Commercial Terms are a series of pre-defined commercial terms that are widely used in International commercial transactions or Procurement processes. Both of these global trade standards are published and standardised by ICC.

The workshops were held in Dhaka and Chittagong with more than 180 trade professionals attending the workshops.

The workshops were conducted by the Chair of the ICC Banking Commission Executive Committee, Vincent O’Brien – an expert in the field of trade standards with more than 20 years of experience.

The workshops provided an opportunity for the participants to engage with distinguished trade professionals of the country and trainers through interactive discussion sessions to understand the globally accredited trade standards thoroughly.

Commenting on the workshops, Corporate Banking Head of HSBC Bangladesh, Md. Mahbub-ur-Rahman said “As the leading international trade bank, HSBC believes in facilitating knowledge on international trade for our trade partners and valued customers.”

Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Md Ahsan Ullah, Preseident of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce Mahbubul Alam, President of ICC Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman, ICC Bangladesh Secretary General Ataur Rahman, Corporate Banking Head of HSBC Bangladesh Md Mahbub-ur-Rahman and other senior officials from ICC Bangladesh and HSBC also attended the workshop.

Kaiser A. Chowdhury, MD and CEO of Meghna Bank Limited, Dr. Kazi Saifuddin Munir, MD and CEO of ITCL and Shezan Shams, MD and CEO of E-Cash exchange documents after signing deal Services at the bank's head office at Doreen Tower in Dhaka recently.

A tripartite agreement was signed between Meghna Bank Limited and IT Consultants Limited (Q-Cash) and E-Cash Limited (FastCash) for Meghna Bank Fast Cash Prepaid Card and Mobile Banking Services at the bank's head office at Doreen Tower in Dhaka recently.

Kaiser A. Chowdhury, Managing Director and CEO of Meghna Bank Limited, Dr. Kazi Saifuddin Munir, Managing Director and CEO of ITCL and Shezan Shams, Managing Director and CEO of E-Cash signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations, said a press release.

Abdul Jabbar Molla, Director of Social Islami Bank Limited, inaugurates the newly-shifted SME/Krishi branch of the bank at Fakirhat recently.

Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) Mollahat SME and Krishi branch has been shifted to its new premises at Fakirhat, Bagerhat recently.

Abdul Jabbar Molla, Director of the bank inaugurated the new office of the bank, said a press release.

Md Shafiqur Rahman, Managing Director of the bank presided over the function.

BRAC Bank Limited, the largest SME Bank in the country, has launched a photography competition to capture the spirit and endurance of the enterprising SME entrepreneurs.

Under contest titled 'BRAC Bank SME Photography Competition 2013', a group of young photographers will visit business establishments of exceptional SME entrepreneurs in different part of the country to create a photographic profile of the businesses. 

 
The photo-stories will illustrate the life struggles, challenges SME entrepreneurs confronted and the determination and hard work the unsung heroes exerted to succeed. 

Mr. Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director & CEO, BRAC Bank, said, "We see small entrepreneurs and their endeavor is often left unnoticed. So, we have taken this initiative to bring up their real life stories to general mass."

"The contest will not only rejuvenate co-entrepreneurs but also provide a platform to young photographers to exhibit their photographic talent to the nation," he added. 

The photographers will be selected through a 2-stage screening process by a panel of expert photographers of the country. The winner will get Tk. 1.5 lac and there will be an exhibition.

Radio Foorti, Independent TV, Ice Business Times and Fujifilm are the partners of the contest.  

The central bank has extended the deadline by two months for shutting down government-identified sick industries.

Bangladesh Bank issued a circular on the liquidation on Tuesday.

The circular has asked the sick industries to apply to their respective banks for disposal of their loans and liquidation of assets by Oct 20.

 
In a previous circular, issued on Jun 20, the deadline was set as Aug 20.

It said the other conditions of the previous circular would remain unchanged.

The Jun 20 circular had said a package, entailing loan disposal and assets liquidation, for the sick industries would be implemented as per a guideline set by the government.