Advocate Md Abdul Hamid, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, visits a blood donation programme in Dhaka recently.

Southeast Bank Limited financed a blood donation programme organised by Service Civil International (SCI)’s Dhaka Unit under the banner of Red Crescent Society in Dhaka recently.

Advocate Md Abdul Hamid, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, attended the programme as chief guest, said a press release.

Mahbubul Alam, Managing Director of Southeast Bank Limited and Golam Rabbany Hiru, Chairman of Benchmark Builders Limited were also present on the occasion.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/20th-Dec-12

Sheikh Abdul Hai Bacchu, Chairman of BASIC Bank Limited, inaugurates Dohazari branch of the bank in Chittagong Wednesday.

BASIC Bank Limited has opened its 58th and 59th branches with online facilities at Dohazari and Pother Haat in Chittagong Wednesday.

Sheikh Abdul Hai Bacchu, Chairman of BASIC Bank Limited formally inaugurated the branches, said a press release.

Kazi Fakrul Islam, Managing Director of BASIC Bank presided over the inaugural functions while Abdullah Al Noman Beg, Chairman of Dohazari Union Parisad was present as special guest.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/20th-Dec-12

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Bangladesh Wednesday signed a technical assistance (TA) grant agreement of $900,000 for improving the quality, delivery and climate resilience of basic urban services and infrastructure in coastal towns.

The Government of Japan is financing the TA through the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. ADB will administer the fund and also provide technical support for project implementation.

The TA will prepare the proposed “Coastal Towns Infrastructure Improvement Project”, which will contribute to improving climate resilience and overall health of selected coastal town populations. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives will be the executing agency of the project.

Saifuddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD) signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh government and Wahidur Rahman, Chief Engineer signed on behalf of the executing agency at a ceremony at ERD, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Stefan Ekelund, Deputy Country Director, signed the agreement for ADB.

“The assistance will lead to improved municipal infrastructure with climate-resilient designs, particularly in water supply, sanitation, and drainage, strengthened local governance, capacity for sustainable service delivery and urban planning while raising awareness in disaster risk preparedness”, said Stefan Ekelund, Deputy Country Director for ADB’s Bangladesh Resident Mission.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members -- 48 from the region. In 2011, ADB approvals including cofinancing totaled $21.7 billion.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/20th-Dec-12

Firoz Ahmed Khan, Head of Retail Banking of BRAC Bank Limited, and Asanka Fernando, Country Manage (Bangladesh) Mihin Lanka, exchange documents after signing a MoU in Dhaka recently.

BRAC Bank customers and employees will enjoy special discounts for traveling with Sri Lankan airline, Mihin Lanka.

BRAC Bank and Mihin Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently, said a press release.

Under the agreement, BRAC Bank Premium and Supreme Customers, Credit Cardholders and all BRAC Bank employees will get special discounted packages for traveling to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Premium Banking Customers will also avail special services like VIP Lounges at Colombo Airport.

Firoz Ahmed Khan, Head of Retail Banking, BRAC Bank Limited, and Asanka Fernando, Country Manager, Bangladesh, Mihin Lanka, signed the agreement.

Mihin Lanka is a leading airline in Sri Lanka. The airline operates scheduled flights from its hub at Bandaranaike International Airport to a number of cities in the Indian subcontinent, the Gulf States and Southeast Asia.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/20th-Dec-12

With India seeking to address the trade imbalance with Bangladesh, a World Bank report released on Monday said a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries could push bilateral trade up by over 100 per cent.

“An FTA between the two nations would increase Bangladesh’s exports to India by 182 per cent and that of India’s to Bangladesh by 126 per cent,” World Bank lead economist Sanjay Kathuria said, while releasing a report titled ‘Unlocking Bangladesh-India Trade’ at a CII function here, Indian English daily The Hindu reports on Wednesday.

During 2011-12, the two-way trade stood at $4.3 billion. Bangladesh has long complained that trade with India was unequal, with India selling goods worth over $3.5 billion to Bangladesh against the latter’s export to India of about $0.6 billion.

Research and Information System for Developing Countries Fellow Prabir De said India’s closer economic cooperation with Bangladesh can be an important steeping-stone to reduce the economic isolation of India’s North-Eastern states. The agreement would also be beneficial for Bangladesh as more manufacturing activity would take place which would generate more employment oppostunities.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/20th-Dec-12