Agricultural loan disbursement in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) further declined by about Tk 6.0 billion, compared with the same period the year before, Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.

According to the BB data, state-owned commercial banks (SCBs), state-owned specialised banks, private commercial banks (PCBs) and foreign commercial banks (FCBs) together have disbursed Tk 30.10 billion up to October of current FY, which was 36.08 billion a year ago.

Of the disbursed amount, SCBs and SSBs have disbursed Tk 19.79 billion against Tk 27.40 billion and PCBs and FCBs together disbursed Tk 10.31 billion against Tk 8.69 billion during the corresponding period of last FY.

Abul Kalam Azad, general manager of agricultural credit department of BB, told the FE that they met high ups of all banks Wednesday to discuss the reasons of decreasing trend of soft loan disbursement and how to increase disbursement.

"We've instructed to bankers to fulfill their social commitment to the farmers and decided to maintain our physical follow-up measures at field level from the next month on the issue," Mr Azad said.

"Bankers have assured us of strengthening their activities in soft loan disbursement by the end of this year. We are hopeful to see a change in situation," he added.

Managing Director of Janata Bank Ltd. Md Aminur Rahman told the FE that due to some unavoidable circumstances and unfavorable weather, they could not do well in soft loan disbursement during the period, but was working on filling the gap soon.

Abdul Hamid Mia, Managing Director of Agrani bank Ltd, also expressed his surprise for not achieving the target of soft loan disbursement, despite efforts.

"Any loan disbursement can see ups and down. But in case of soft loan disbursement we always try to fulfill our target as the central bank has given us special instructions in this regard," Mr Mia added.

"We are now conducting study on how the disbursement can be increased," he said.

A high official of Islami Bank Ltd, preferring not to be identified, said they always try to achieve the bank's disbursement targets.

"We always prefer decentralisation of funds. We always disburse the highest amount of such loans among the farmers," he said.

Islami Bank has disbursed Tk 3.3 billion of the total disbursement of PCBs and FCBs, BB data showed.

Source: The Finance/ Bangladesh/ 30th Nov 2011

Pubali Bank Limited (PBL) has donated Tk 6 lakh to International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as a part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility recently, says a press release. Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of the Bank, said, “The Bank has donated the amount to IRRI for development of research.”
Helal Ahmed Chowdhury handed over the donation cheque to Mohammed Zainul Abedin, IRRI representative for Bangladesh.  Dr M Matiur Rahman, cordinator, Rice Pulse Project of IRRI, Dr Kamala Gurung, gender and equity specialist of IRRI, M Aynul Haque Bhuiyan, deputy general manager of PBL, were also present.

Source: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ 30th Nov 2011

Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) organised a workshop on “Prevention of Money Laundering Act -2009” and “Anti Terrorism Act, 2009’’ for their staff, working in the Chittagong region, says a press release. 98 officers from various Chittagong based EBL branches and support units took part in the workshop, held at Hotel Saint Martin of the city.
Asim Kumar Chowdhury, deputy director, Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong, Md. Abdul Awal, head of operation risk and Mohammad Shahjahan Ali, head of compliance unit, both from EBL ICCD conducted the training workshop.
EBL area head, corporate banking, Chittagong Ahsan Zaman Chowdhury inaugurated the training workshop while Mohammad Naushad Ali Chowdhury, general manager, Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong was present as chief guest.

Source: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ 30th Nov 2011

Md Abdul Jalil, MP, chairman of Mercantile Bank Limited, is seen with the students who received cheques and certificates under Mercantile Bank Foundation Education Scholarship-2010 in the city

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 30th Nov 2011

Neaz Ahmed, managing director and CEO of  National Bank Limited is seen distributing certificates among the participants of a training course recently.

The National Bank Limited has arranged a training course on ‘Cash Management’ for its cash officers at its training institute in the city recently.

A total of 35 officers of the bank attended the eight-day training course, said a press release.

Neaz Ahmed, managing director and CEO of National Bank Limited, distributed certificates among the participants after the training.

Md Majibur Rahman, principal, Zahir Uddin Md Babar, senior faculty member of National Bank  Training Institute, were present at the concluding function of the course.

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 30th Nov 2011