He was critical of the projected growth of the government and found it unrealistic

Bangladesh Bank has decided to look into recruitment and promotion at BASIC Bank to review alleged irregularities, a BB official said yesterday.
“The central bank will investigate the issues following allegations that the bank's board of directors violated BB directives and appointed and promoted unqualified people in crucial positions,” said the official in the BB's off-site supervision department.
The central bank yesterday sent a letter to BASIC Bank about the investigation.
The state-run bank also violated its own recruitment rules to place chairman's own people in different positions, the official said, asking not to be named.
According to BB rules, the managing director or CEO of a bank would supervise the appointment and promotion of all officials except the two posts below him.

The bank's board of directors cannot interfere in the process.
But it has been alleged that BASIC Bank's board of directors had even interfered in the appointment of petty officials.
The present board has appointed a huge number of people since it took charge in 2009.
In 2009, the bank had 34 branches with 750 employees. But the number of branches now rose to 64 and employees to more than 3,000.

Winners of Standard Chartered-Financial Express Awards pose with Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman at a gala event at Radisson Hotel in Dhaka last night. Photo:

STANCHARTStandard Chartered Bank and The Financial Express yesterday awarded three companies for their outstanding corporate social responsibility activities that created jobs, brought education to poor children and spread awareness on nature conservation.  This year's awards went to BSRM, a leading steelmaker, Grameenphone, the largest mobile phone operator in the country, and Unilever, the world famous consumer goods multinational company.Finance Minister AMA Muhith handed the awards to the recipients at the fifth Standard Chartered Financial Express Corporate Social Responsibility Award ceremony at Radisson Hotel in the capital.
Alihussain Akberali, chairman of BSRM Group of Companies, Vivek Sood, chief executive of Grameenphone, and Chowdhury Hasan Mazhar, product group manager of Unilever Bangladesh, received the trophies.BSRM won the award for undertaking CSR projects which have empowered 100 women through job creation, ensured pure drinking water for 300 families, and made solar power available for 40 families in Sylhet.Grameenphone won the accolade for its partnership with the national Special Olympics Team since 2007. As the main sponsor, the telecom company supports sports among the physically and mentally challenged groups.The jury board also took into considerationGrameenphone's telemedicine and water cleanliness project and online school project in giving the award. The telemedicine and water cleanliness project is providing consultations on skin disease to underprivileged communities through an innovative device that allows video and audio communication.The online school, powered by high-speed internet, ensures quality education for underprivileged and secluded children living in urban slums and remote locations. A total of 360 children already have reached 10th grade in the school.Unilever won the award for Laser Beam, a project which aims to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by working in the areas of health, hygiene, food, water and livelihoods.The company is feeding 100,000 children in schools, has developed safe water and proper sanitation facilities for 70,000 people and taught natural resource conservation to 40,000 people.Unilever is ensuring access to preliminary medical services for 350,000 people in the char areas and supporting income generation for 3,000 ultra-poor women and their families.Speaking at the event, Muhith said: "I am here to know the award winning companies whose CSR projects have brought welfare to the society." "Other corporate houses should come forward with CSR activities to serve the society.”Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman said CSR obligations are a global survival urgency in the face of looming risks from social iniquity, environmental degradation and climate change threats.“There is indeed no escape from the imperative of major global shift from polluting output practices and lifestyles towards equitable and environmentally sustainable options in the one world that we all share,” he added.Jim McCabe, chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, said: “Vision with action has the power to change the world. CSR efforts that combine a vision with tangible action can benefit Bangladesh for sustainable economic growth.”“We believe that we can make a positive impact in society. The CSR award honoured such visionary actions that are making a lasting difference in Bangladesh.”Hafiz GA Siddiqi, jury committee member of the award, and Moazzem Hossain, editor of The Financial Express, were also present.

Mashrur Arefin, Deputy Managing Director and COO of City Bank Ltd, and Mohammad Shah Newaz, Director Marketing and Sales, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, exchange documents after signing an agreement in Dhaka recently. City Bank signed a merchant acquiring agreement with Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Mashrur Arefin, Deputy Managing Director and COO of City Bank and Mohammad Shah Newaz, Director Marketing and Sales, Biman Bangladesh Airlines recently signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations .
Under this agreement, City Bank American Express Card members will be able to purchase air tickets from Biman through their cards from Biman’s own sales outlet in Bangladesh, said a press release.