Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman yesterday asked the commercial banks to constitute a special humanitarian fund under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to help build a caring society.

“CSR activities of banks got momentum since 2008 and banks are now carrying out a lot of activities as part of their social obligations,” said the central bank governor while speaking on the occasion of releasing the second review of CSR initiatives in banks 2010. The governor handed over a cheque of Tk 1.25 million to Sammilita Sangskritik Jote leader Nasiruddin Yusuf for artist Dhali Al Mamun who was critically injured in a road crash that killed noted film director Tarique Masud and cinematographer Mishuk Munir.

Speaking as the chief guest, Atiur said “CSR is for humanitarian purpose and banks have a lot to do for the poorer and disadvantaged section of the society.”

The central bank governor said under CSR initiatives, banks can extend their financial support to poor freedom fighters and their families, vulnerable women and for education purposes.

Banks will soon accord reception to renowned persons such as academic Sardar Fazlul Karim, journalist Nirmal Sen and actor Anwar Hossain for their role inspiring the society people.

He said all banks with their direct budgetary expenditures are expanding their CSR peogrammes. They are also actively involved in financial inclusion initiatives aimed at reaching credit and other financial services to the poor in farm and non-farm activities, he added.

“CSR initiatives for addressing environmental concerns have also widened substantially,” he added.

The governor said BB has been channelising a special credit through banks for spice farming. The government will charge 6 per cent interest for this credit while banks take 4 per cent interest from borrowers, he added.

According to the review, CSR activities of banks deepened and widened in 2001 as 46 banks out of 47 directly spent Tk 2.33 billion during the period. Twenty four banks had spent only Tk 550 million in 2009.

Out of the total CSR expenditures, banks spent Tk 4.6041 billion for humanitarian and disaster relief, Tk 4.0079 billion for education, Tk 6.8907 billion for health, Tk 265.23 for sports, Tk 3.2891 billion for art and culture, Tk 597.8 million for environment and Tk 1.2558 billion for other purposes.

The state owned banks opened about 9.5 million new accounts of rural farmers with deposit of Tk 10 only. A Bangladesh Bank special refinance line amounting to Tk 5 billion is being managed by BRAC for lending to sharecroppers. The central bank has a Tk 2 billion refinance line for institutions lending for solar energy, biogas, ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant) and other green banking initiatives

News: Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 13-Oct-2011

United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL) and Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited (BSRM) signed a term sheet for arranging syndicate term loan yesterday.

The term sheet was inked for the BMRE project of the company amounting to Tk 2800 million at the UCBL head office. The UCBL will act as coordinator for raising the fund for this expansion, said a press release.

M. Shahjahan Bhuiyan, managing director of UCBL and M. Alihussain Akberali, managing director and chairman of BSRM Group signed the term sheet on behalf of their respective organisations.

M Shafiqul Alam and M Shahidul Islam, additional managing directors, Mamun Ur Rashid, Shahed Jalal Chowdhury and, Mirza Mahmud Rafiqur Rahman, deputy managing directors attended the ceremony.

ASM Arif, senior vice president and head of structured finance division of UCBL, Mahmood Kabir, head of investment wing of structured finance division of UCBL and relationship manager of the deal, Tapan K. Podder, financial consultant of BSRM Group, Shekhar Ranjan Kar, CFO of BSRM Group and other senior officials of both the companies were present.

News: Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 13-Oct-2011

The 60th ATM booth of Prime Bank Limited was opened at the corporate office at Gulshan Avenue.

Tanjil Chowdhury, vice chairman of the executive committee of the bank, on Tuesday inaugurated the booth as chief guest, said a press release.

Ehsan Khasru, managing director, Isbahul Bari Chowdhury, deputy managing director, Farhad Uddin, EVP, Ferdousi Sultana and Md Mashiur Rahman, SVP, Salahuddin Ahmed, VP and Md. Reza Hossain, SAVP were present.

Tanjil Chowdhury in his opening address said, the bank is gradually expanding its technology-based banking facilities through ATMs in the urban as well as in the rural areas of the country.

Ehsan Khasru said, through ATM booths, customers can withdraw their money as well as know their accounts’ status by mini statements.

News: Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 13-Oct-2011

Eastern Bank Ltd (EBL) has opened its 94th ATM booth at Farmgate in the city yesterday. Muklesur Rahman, deputy managing director of EBL, inaugurated the ATM, said a press release. Zahidul Haque, head of the alternative distribution channel, Major Md Abdus Salam, psc, (retd), head of administration and security, Ziaul Karim, head of brand and marketing, Irfan Islam, senior manager for brand and marketing , Ajmal Hossain, head of electronic payments of the bank, were also present at the function.

News: Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 13-Oct-2011

Bangladesh Krishi bank disbursed Tk 954.36 crore as loans in Khulna Division in the 2010-2011 fiscal year to boost the rural economy and generate employment through enhancing agricultural and non- agricultural production in the region.

Alongside disbursement of loans, the bank also realized Tk 533.19 crore as outstanding loans during the same period, officials said here Monday.
They said Khulna Krishi Bank has been functioning through two administrative divisions since 2009 to provide better services to the farmers. Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jessore and Narail districts are functioning under Khulna Regional office while Kushtia, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Magura districts are functioning under Kushtia Regional office under Khulna division.
Assistant general manager of Krishi Bank Kazi Baes Newaz told BSS that the Khulna administrative division of the bank set a target of disbursing Tk 522.26 crore as loans among 75,730 farmers and recovering Tk 287.60 crore through its 84 branches in the region while the bank disbursed Tk 517.33 among the farmers and recovered Tk 267.79 in the last fiscal year.

News: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ 12-Oct-2011