City Bank Ltd. introduced MasterCard Platinum International Debit Card, a first dual currency Debit Card in the country on July 5, says a press release. City Bank DMD and chief communication officer Mashrur Arefin and Platinum Suites Head of Corporate affairs Mohammad Ali Tinku has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on behalf their respective companies.  Platinum Suites comes with City Bank Platinum Card and given a special offer for all Platinum Card Holders to enjoy their Brunch and lunch at Café Nemo Global Cuisine Restaurant.

News: The Independent/Bangladesh/July-08-2011

It seems to be an Eid holiday in the capital city as most shops are closed, vehicles are limited and very few commuters are seen.

The scenario depicts a Dhaka city during the 48-hour countrywide hartal programme enforced by the main opposition BNP.

But the hartal seemed to have little impact on banking transactions. People were seen going to banks to have their necessary transactions.

The insides of the bank offices, however, were less crowded as they remain on usual days. Unlike on the other regular days, the bank officials seemed to be in a bit relaxed mood. They were not seen doing their works in haste.

“Hartal mainly put impact on cash transactions as it is difficult to carry cash on hartal days, but other transactions remain almost as usual,” said Salahuddin Ahmed, a senior officer of Social Islami Bank Limited.

There clients’ arrival into the bank was almost same as it is on non-hartal days, he added.

The banks in the port city of Chittagong also reportedly passed hartal days as like as those had in the capital city, although there were few vehicles on the streets and shops with locks hanging on the shutters.

An official of Pubali Bank Ltd in the port city said cash transactions were done on limited scale plus limited arrival of the clients.

An AB Bank official also commented similarly about banking activities during the hartal days.

Banks in the district and upazilla towns reportedly appeared with no difference on hartal days from the regular days.

“Although it was a hartal today, I saw no difference in transactions from other days,” said Zahir Uddin, cash officer of Rupali Bank Limited of Eid Goan branch in Cox’s Bazar.

Describing hartal situation in the district, he said bus movements were few limited but small vehicles were seen running as usual.

He said hartal seemed to have any impact on the activities including cash transactions in their branch.

An officer of United Commercial Bank Ltd (UCBL) Sherpur branch in Habiganj, however, said the transactions were on a limited scale and gate remained closed although clients came in few numbers.

An Agrani Bank officer of Nabinagar branch in Brahman Baria, however, said there was almost no impact of hartal in their branch.

                                                                                                                                      News: Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ July-08-2011

BRAC Bank has recently organised an 'SME Night' to express gratitude to its customers as the bank celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Successful entrepreneurs from small and medium enterprise (SME) joined the ceremony organised at a restaurant in Dhaka on June 25, the bank said in a statement.

Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director of BRAC Bank, said the bank plans to bring all SME entrepreneurs of the country under banking coverage as they are driving the economy and generating huge employment.

Greeting the customers on the event, Rahman said: “BRAC Bank is proud that it has been able to stand beside 3.65 lakh SME entrepreneurs in fulfilling their dreams.”

Customers won attractive prizes, including air tickets, through raffle draw at the event. The ceremony ended with an enchanting musical performance.

Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid, deputy managing director, Syed Faridul Islam, head of SME Banking, and senior officials of BRAC Bank attended the function.

News: The daily Star: Bangladesh/ July-08-2011

The on leave pre-retirement (LPR) executive director of Bangladesh Bank Md Abul Kashem was appointed the fourth deputy governor of the institute yesterday, a BB press release said.

Abul Kashem, a seasoned BB official, will be serving for the next four years as contractual basis.

Son of Late Md Abbas Ali Morol and Late Amina Khatun was born in Paikan village of Barochapa union under Monohardi thana of Narsingdi district in 1953.

He earned his bachelor and masters degrees in economics from Dhaka University in 1973 and 1974 respectively. He passed his SSC exam in 1968 and HSC in 1970 from Dhaka Board.

News: Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ July-08-2011

Islamic Banking is the right platform to boost ‘green financing’ as it is based on the concept of promoting good practices and values, a leading Indian banker in Qatar has said. R Seetharaman, the Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bank, said Islamic banking is not just a financial system, but is part of a total value-based social system that seeks to enhance the general welfare of society as a whole. Seetharaman was delivering the inaugural address at a seminar on Islamic economics, organised by the Indian Islamic Association Qatar (IIAQ), under the title, ‘Toward an Alternative Economy’.
“Sustainable environment development, developing water resources, facing global warming, ensuring women’s participation and promotion of small-scale enterprises are all part of green financing. This is clearly an area where Islamic Banking can play a pivotal role,” he was quoted by Gulf Times as saying. Seetharaman, however, noted that Islamic banking is currently in its infancy and faces several challenges and added that young people should be encouraged to take up these challenges to ensure this significant economic system carries through and plays a leading role in the current global financial stage.

 News: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ July-06-2011