Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd (DBBL) Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which the Bank will work as the key sponsor at the upcoming 6th Knit Exposition 2012 in Japan, said a press release.

BKMEA president AKM Selim Osman and Dutch-Bangla Bank managing director KS Tabrej signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organsations at the Bank's head office in the city. BKMEA vice-president (Finance) AH Aslam Sani and other officials of the bank were present.

The release said the association has decided to organise the fair in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled to be held from January 25 to January 27 next for the first time aiming to reduce over dependence on European Union (EU) countries, US and Canada as the prime export market of knitwear items and to diversify the market. The previous five expositions were held in Bangladesh.

Japan imports knitwear products from Bangladesh worth $ 27 billion every year. Besides, Japan has relaxed the rules of origin from three stages to two stages of knitwear items to avail of Japanese GSP facilities. It has created an immense potential to export Bangladeshi knit products to the country, the release added.

The association board of directors and the members will take part in the exhibition where booking of 32 stalls have already been made. Many participants from across the world will participate at the exposition.

Both BKMEA and BGMEA leaders in recent years took an intensified move to diversify the traditional export market of apparel, the country’s lifeline of economy.

“Being the third largest economy of the world, Japan is a very good destination for Bangladeshi products provided we can maintain the quality and shipment time,” one industry source told the FE.

Source: The Financial Express/ Bangladesh/ 14th Dec 2011

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has taken up a project to introduce Foreign Employment Loan Programme.

The decision was taken at the 372th meeting of RAKUB) Board of Directors on Tuesday noon.

Presided over by professor Dr M Shah Nawaz Ali, chairman of RAKUB), the meeting was attended, among others by Pradip Kumar Dutta, managing director, Abdul Mannan, Khandker Jahangir Kabir Rana, Professor Dr Rustom Ali Ahmed, Saidur Rahman, directors, Mosharraf Hossain Chowdhury, deputy managing director, Nishith Kumar Saha, general manager (operation), Habibur Rahman, general manager, audit and inspection and Abdul Khaleque Khan, general manager of Rajshahi divisional office.

Source: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ 14th Dec 2011

Prime Bank Limited has opened its 117th branch at Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria recently.

Md Shirajul Islam Mollah, chairman of the Bank, inaugurated the branch as chief guest, said a press release.

M Reazul Karim, deputy managing director, Farhad Uddin, executive vice president of the bank, Golam Hossain Ifty, president of Ashuganj Chamber of Commerce, Haji Md Anisur Rahman, chairman of Ashuganj upazila and Abu Naser Ahmed, director of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association, local elites and businessmen were also present on the occasion.

The Bank provides the small and medium entrepreneurs collateral-free loans through its SME project, the news release said.

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 14th Dec 2011

Mohammad Abu Abdu- llah recently joined United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL) as the deputy managing director (DMD).

Abdullah, a well known personality in human resource development in Bangladesh, has gained an outstanding experience during his long career of about 38 years at home and abroad, said press release.

He spent his professional career with Unilever during last 10 years and served as a member of the board of directors of Unilever Bangladesh. Prior to joining UCBL, he worked for Prime Bank Limited, AB Bank Limited and Abul Khair Group at senior managerial positions and played leading role in HR, organisation development and change management.

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 14th Dec 2011

Md. Ahsan-uz Zaman, AMD of MTB is seen opening a branch at Sarulia Bazar in Demra, Dhaka recently.

Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTB) recently opened its 73rd branch at Sarulia Bazar in Demra, Dhaka.

Md. Ahsan-uz Zaman, additional managing director (AMD) of MTB inaugurated the branch. A large number of SME entrepreneurs, local MP, dignitaries, local elite, leading businessmen, and people of different strata attended the ceremony. Managers of other MTB branches were also present at the event, said a press release.

Md. Ahsan-uz Zaman, in his speech, said that MTB is glad to open its branch at Sarulia Bazar to serve the SMEs of this growing area. SME is the main driving force of the country's economic development and the opening of the branch will help the local SMEs and entrepreneurs to enhance their capacity.

In addition, the new branch will provide its customers access to the large and varied product and service offerings of MTB to meet their financial needs.

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 14th Dec 2011