The five-day SME Fair-2011 ended yesterday, which organisers said raised hopes among entrepreneurs.

The fair addressed the issues of technological innovations, its application to the SME sector and credit access to entrepreneurs with special focus on women entrepreneurs, said Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told the news agency by phone.

The Daily Star/Bangladesh/ 25th Dec 2011

Alhaj Mohiuddin Ahmed, director of Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited, is seen inaugurating a branch in the capital on Thursday.

Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited (SJIBL) opened its 70th branch at Nowabpur road in the capital on Thursday.

The director of the Bank Alhaj Mohiuddin Ahmed formally inaugurated the branch as chief guest, said a press release.

Among others, vice chairman of the Bank Alhaj Md Harun Miah, directors Alhaj Syed Nurul Arefeen, Alhaj Abdul Halim, Alhaj Mohammad Hasan, Alhaj Mohammad Farooq, managing director Md Abdur Rahman Sarker, additional managing director Md Mukhter Hossain, deputy managing director Md Abdul Jabber Chowdhury, CEO of Shahjalal Islami Bank Securities Ltd M Kamaluddin Chowdhury and president of Nowabpur Shop Owners’ Association Md Kamal Hossain were present on the occassion.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 23th Dec 2011

Sheikh Abdul Hai Bacchu, chairman of BASIC Bank is seen inaugurating Khulna KDA Avenue branch on Thursday.

BASIC Bank Limited has opened a branch at Khulna and another two at Fakirhat and Chitalmari in Bagerhat on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sheikh Abdul Hai Bacchu, chairman of the Bank, inaugurated the branches, said a press release.

Prof Dr Kazi Akhtar Hossain, member of the board of directors of the Bank, Kazi Fakrul Islam, managing director, Sheikh Manjur Morshed, additional managing director, among others, also attended the opening ceremony.

Sheikh Abdul Hai, chairman of the Bank, said to ensure better services, the Bank is expanding its online services gradually.

Among others, SM Mostafa Rasidi Suja, former whip of Jatiya Sangsad, Khan Zahid Hasan, chairman, Fakirhat Union parisad, among others, were present.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 23th Dec 2011

Md Fayekuzzaman, managing director of ICB and Md Mainul Haque, deputy managing director of Sonali Bank are seen at the inauguration of a branch at Tungipara recently.

Sonali Bank Limited (SBL), the largest state-owned commercial Bank in the country, has opened its 1196th branch at Basbaria Bazar, Tungipara in Gopalganj recently.

Md Fayekuzzaman, managing director of the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) inaugurated the branch as chief guest, said a press release.

General manager of Faridpur Md Mesbaul Haq presided over the function. Md Mainul Haque, deputy managing director of the bank and Monirul Islam, police super of Gopalganj were also present as special guests.

Kazi Emdadul Haq, UNO of Tungipar, SM Mahbubul Alam, DGM of head office, ABM Sanaullah Mia, assistant general manager, regional office Gopalganj, among others, were present at the function.

Mainul Haque asked the employees of the Bank to discharge their duties with sincerity by rendering proper service to the clients.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 23th Dec 2011

Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued a commemorative note and coin of Taka 10 denomination marking the 40th Victory Anniversary of the country and a coin commemorating the composition of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s famous ‘Bidrohi’ poem 90 years ago.

A central bank statement said its governor Dr Atiur Rahman issued the note and the coin which would be formally released on December 26.

The commemorative note and the coin on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman contained his portrait and imprinted his famous clarion call for independence on March 7, 1971 saying ‘Ebarer Sangram Amader Muktir Sangram, Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram’ or “the struggle this time is the struggle for our freedom, the struggle this time is the struggle for our independence”.

The statement said the one side of the note and the coin would also contain portraits of six 1971 Liberation War veterans. The coin on the national poet was imprinted his portrait of Kazi Nazrul Islam alongside the words “90 years of poem Bidrohi”.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 23th Dec 2011