Bank Asia arranged a three-week foundation training course for its officers at its training institute in the city recently.

A Rouf Chowdhury, chairman of the bank, handed over certificates to the participants at the concluding ceremony of the workshop on Tuesday, said a press release.

Twenty five officers of the bank participated at the workshop, the news release added.

News: Daily Sun/Bangladesh/9 Feb 2011.

Four branches of Sonali Bank Ltd (SBL) in Chittagong have been brought under online banking system on Thursday. The customers of branches will now get the online banking service with 76 other branches in the country.

Syed Golam Kibria, commissioner of Chittagong Custom House, R U Ahmed, chairman of Chittagong Port, Mahbubul Alam, senior vice president of Chittagong Chamber, and Abdus Salam, chairman of CDA, formerly inaugurated the banking activity at the Chittagong Huse, Chittagong Port, Agrabad and Laldidigh branches respectively.

News: Daily Sun/Bangladesh/9 Feb 2011.

Trust Bank on Monday donated Tk4.0m to the Trust Technical Training Institute (TTTI) as part of the banks CSR activities. Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army and Vice Chairman of Trust Bank Limited Major General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq ndc, psc handed over the cheque to TTTI principle Lt. Col. Asadul Islam (Retd) at a ceremony at the bank’s head office.
Among others, Trust Bank’s board of directors member Brig. Gen. Khan Abu Rawshan Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, ndc, psc, Brig. Gen. Tushar Kanti Chakma, ndc, psc, Begum Rokeya Din and managing director and chief executive officer of the bank Shah A Sarwar was also present of the occasion.

News:The Independent/Bangladesh/08 Feb 2011

The government on Monday approved Islamic development Bank’s (IDB’s) US$1.2 billion loan proposal to Bangladesh.

Hard term loan committee approved the proposal of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division placed on January 9 last with Finance Minister AMA Muhith is the chair.

Finance Division Secretary Dr Mohammed Tareq, Energy and Mineral Resources Division Additional Secretary Md Abu Taher, BPC Chairman Anwarul Karim and other senior officials were present at the meeting.

Last December, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) assured Bangladesh of providing US$ 1.2 billion for procurement of 5.5 million tonnes of petroleum fuels during this calendar year.

The IDB assurance came in response to Bangladesh’s proposal at a meeting in Jeddah late last year with Islamic Trade and Finance Cooperation (ITFC), a sister concern of IDB.

The IDB assured to provide the loan as the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation was suffering fund shortage for import of petroleum oil. The BPC has sought Tk 25 billion as a subsidy from the Ministry of Finance to ease its financial crisis.

The government sought nearly USD $2 billion loan support from the IDB for this calendar year, a senior official of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) told daily sun.

“IDB assured us of providing US$ 1.2 billion in response to an appeal for nearly US$ 2 billion,” he said, adding.

News:Daily Sun/Bangladesh/08 Feb 2011

Bangladesh Bank will unveil a commemorative coin today to mark the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, to be held in the sub-continent this month including Bangladesh.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, also the chairman of the world cup organising committee, will unveil the Tk 10 silver coin at a function at National Sports Council (NSC) this morning with BB Governor Dr Atiur Rahman in the chair, a BB press release said.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president AHM Mustafa Kamal,

State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar, Zahid Ahsan Russel, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Youth and Sports, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mahbub Ahmed, BB deputy governor Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui

will also attend the function.

The Germany made coin will have a price tag of Tk 3,000.

The sale of the commemorative coins will start in the capital at 12:00pm at Bangladesh Bank’s head office and all commercial banks.

Other branches of the BB and other commercial banks outside the capital will also sell the coin later.

The round shaped coin will have world cup logo embedded on one side and the World Cup and BB logo on the other.

The coin is made of 925 fine silver (99.9% silver), having a diameter of 38mm and weighing 30 grams.

Bangladesh is a co-host of the sporting event along with India and Sri Lanka.

Eight matches including two quarter finals and the inaugural ceremony will be held in Bangladesh starting from February 17.

News:Daily Sun/Bangladesh/08 Feb 2011