The talks between the World Bank's external panel and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) ended inconclusively Wednesday over a disagreement about dropping of the name of former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain from the list of graft suspects to be sued.

Sources in the commission said the meetings were inconclusive as the WB panel wanted to include the name of former communications minister in the list of persons to be sued on the charge of graft conspiracy in the process of appointing a consultant for the Padma bridge project.

But the stance of the anti graft body remained the same, prompting the WB panel to quit the meeting in the evening for some internal consultations among themselves, the sources said.

While leaving the meeting, Ellen Goldstein, WB country director for Bangladesh, said, "We continue to have some unresolved issues and as a result we're going for some internal consultations now."

She added, "It's possible that we'll be coming back today for further discussion."

She told this to reporters before getting into her car along with the panel members.

The panel without the WB country director later came to the ACC headquarters at about 6:35pm and again came out of the commission within 20 minutes and informed that they would leave Dhaka at night.

Talking to reporters, the WB panel leader Luis Moreno Ocampo said, "I, on behalf of the panel appreciate the openness and frank discussion with the ACC and now we're leaving for the airport."

"I got nothing," he replied when asked about the development in the much-awaited discussion.

The three-member WB team led by the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) held discussions for three days - Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday --- during its second visit here to finalise the names of graft suspects in the enquiry report on the corruption conspiracy in the project.

News: The Daily Financial Express/Bangladesh/6th-Dec-12

SME credit portfolio of BRAC Bank has crossed Tk 5,000 crore mark for the first time. BRAC Bank is witnessing remarkable growth in SME portfolio from beginning of the year with increase by Tk 712 crore as till Tuesday, says a press release.   The growth is attributed to consistent credit demand for new small business start-ups and expansion at grassroots level as more and more entrepreneurs are being able to have access to SME loan thanks to SME-focused initiatives of Bangladesh Bank, SME Foundation and trade bodies.

Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and chief executive officer of BRAC Bank, said, “As a SME-focused bank, we have witnessed phenomenal growth in SME credit that boosts national economy.”

Bangladesh Bank in assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has recently started a Tk 415 crore refinancing scheme to provide easy loan to SME entrepreneurs.

“In its 11 years of operations, BRAC Bank has disbursed Tk. 22,000 crore loan to 4 lakh SME entrepreneurs across the country and 92per cent of these loans are collateral free. The finance has created direct employment to 13 lakh people. BRAC Bank also extended support to 8,000 women entrepreneurs with Tk. 360 crore loan till date. With these efforts, BRAC Bank has now become synonymous with SME Financing,” said Rahman.

News: The Daily Independent/Bangladesh/6th-Dec-12

Higher profitability, improved asset quality and loan growth put US banks in a better position compared with the financial crisis period, said a US banking industry regulator on Wednesday.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reported commercial banks and savings institutions gained net income of 37. 6 billion US dollars in the third quarter of 2012, up 6.6 per cent from the same period last year. This is the 13th consecutive quarter with a year-on-year increase. "Signs of further progress were evident in a number of indicators," said FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg. Increased noninterest income and lower provisions for loan losses accounted for most of the improvement in earnings, the FDIC explained in the latest Quarterly Banking Profile.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/6th-Dec-12

Md Mahmudul Hoque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jamuna Bank, presides over a meeting at the bank's head office in Dhaka recently.

The 212th meeting of the board of Jamuna Bank Limited organised its was held at the bank's head office in Dhaka recently.

Md Mahmudul Hoque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jamuna Bank, presided over the meeting, said a press release.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/6th-Dec-12

AAM Zakaria, Managing Director of First Security Islami Bank, inaugurates Pahartoli branch of the bank at Raozan in Chittagong Wednesday.

First Security Islami Bank Limited has opened its Pahartoli Branch at Roazan in Chittagong Wednesday.

AAM Zakaria, Managing Director of First Security Islami Bank inaugurated the branch, said a press release.

Sheikh Mohammad Qutbuddin, Chairman of Shariah Council, Quazi Osman Ali, SEVP, Quazi Latiful Islam, Zonal Head, Chittagong, Kazi Md. Amanullah, Head of General Services Division attended the function.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/6th-Dec-12