The crisis of values and ethics afflicts today’s bank and financial services industry both locally and globally, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said yesterday.

“The recent global financial turmoil was originated from aberrant quests for quick gains from irresponsible risk taking, alongside collusive insider trading by dominant shareholders and senior managements undermining institutional viability and the interests of small equity holders,” Atiur said.

He was speaking at the 10th Nurul Matin memorial lecture on ethics in banking, organised by Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) in Dhaka yesterday.

Former BB Governor AKN Ahmed spoke at the function as chief guest while another former BB Governor Dr Mohammad Farashuddin delivered the theme lecture.

Source: Daily Sun/ BAngladesh/ Jan-04-2011

BRAC Bank recently organised a road-show at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet as a part of its campus contacts in various universities across the country.

The proramme aims to explore the future leaders and bring more practical industry exposure to the academia, said a press release.

Source: Daily Sun/ BAngladesh/ Jan-04-2011

AKM Shahidul Haque assumed the office as managing director and chief executive officer of Mercantile Bank Ltd recently. Prior to the assignment, he was the additional managing director of the bank, said a statement.

Haque is associated with Mercantile Bank since its inception. He also served at Rupali Bank, National Bank and Prime Bank Ltd, throughout his 33-year banking career.

Rupali Bank Ltd has opened a branch at Noyatola in the capital on Sunday.

Local lawmaker Asad- uzzaman Khan Kamal formally inaugurated the branch at Modhubagh of Moghb- azar, said a press release.

Mahabubur Rahman Hiron, director of the bank,

Abu Md Sayedul Islam, deputy general manager of bank’s head office, several zonal heads and branch managers of the bank were also present on the occasion.

Source: Daily Sun/ BAngladesh/ Jan-04-2011

Speakers at a seminar here today underscored the need for speedy implementation of mobile banking service across the country for the greater interest of bringing rural people under the banking facilities.
With the introduction of mobile banking service, they said, people of all strata, including rural people, who are deprived of banking facilities, would get such facilities very easily as there are 66 million Cellphone subscribers in the country. It would also help implement the present government’s vision to build Digital Bangladesh by 2021, the speakers added.
The seminar titled ‘Digital Bangladesh and the Role of Mobile Banking’ was arranged as part of the nine-day Digital ICT Fair, being held at Multiplan Computer City at Elephant Road.
General Manager (IT and Billing) of Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd Md Habibur Rahman Khan attended the seminar as the chief guest, while former president of Bangladesh Computer Samity and IT consultant of Eastern Bank Ltd Omar Faruq Khandakar was present as special guest. With Convenor of the fair Towfique Ehsan in the chair, the keynote paper was presented at the seminar by Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Pragati Systems Dr Shahadat Ullah Khan.
Convenor of the Event and Seminar Committee Engineer Subrata  Sarkar was the moderator of the seminar.
It was also attended by branch mangers and IT officials of different banks in the city.

Source: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ Jan-04-2011