Some 700 officials of Bangladesh Bank (BB) enjoyed foreign tours in the calendar year 2012 for the purposes of training, seminars and symposiums in order to improve skills in respective fields, Governor Dr Atiur Rahman disclosed Wednesday.

Dr Rahman was speaking at the Bank Employees Recognition Award 2011 programme at Jahangir Alam Conference Hall of the central bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Atiur said, in addition, over 3,000 officials were provided trainings at different local institutions which enriched their knowledge and skills which would be useful for them to carry out regular activities of the central bank in the days ahead.

He said improved skill was needed for the central bank officials as the entire banking systems goes online in phases.

The governor hoped that the Bangladesh Bank will be a central bank of international standards soon attributing by trained officials under the aegis of the incumbent superiors.

Md Shafiqur Rahman has recently been promoted to the managing director of Social Islami Bank. 
Prior to his new assignment, he was holding the current charge of the managing director of the bank, said a news release. 

 
The Dhaka University graduate Shafiqur started his career as a probationary officer with Sonali Bank back in 1977.

 
He served different banksin various capacities. 
The career banker joined the SIBL as deputy managing director in 2010 and played leadership roles in the management and operation of different important divisions of the bank, the release added.

Bangladesh Bank holds a meeting today with finance ministry officials to discuss a recent directive by the ministry to contain banks’ interest rate spread.

The finance ministry in a letter gave the direction to the BB on January 3 asking it to decrease the existing high interest rate spread, the gap between the interest rates on credit and deposit rates.

A BB official told New Age on Tuesday that a BB team led by deputy governor Md Abul Quasem would hold the meeting with the finance ministry officials in which the central bank would inform its recent measures that it took earlier in this regard.

The finance ministry letter also said that the BB should take steps cautiously to achieve the target of monetary policy.

The ministry also mentioned that the BB should keep importance on increasing the credit flow to the productive sector specially to small and medium enterprises.

Showkat Aziz Russell, Vice-Chairman of UCBL, seen at Annual Business Conference-2013 of the bank at a hotel in Dhaka Monday.

United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL) organised the Annual Business Conference 2013 at a hotel in Dhaka Monday.

Showkat Aziz Russell, Vice-Chairman of UCBL was present as chief guest at the conference, said a press release.

Muhammed Ali, Managing Director of UCBL delivered welcome speech.

Mirza Mahmud Rafiqur Rahman, Additional Managing Director and Company Secretary of the bank conducted the function.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited donated 2,000 blankets to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) for distributing among the cold-affected people across the country.

Md. Sirajul Akbar, MP, Chairman, Red Crescent Society received the blankets from Engr. Mustafa Anwar, Vice Chairman of Islami Bank Tuesday.