Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman has recently been awarded with the prestigious World No-Tobacco Day Award 2012 by the World Health Organisation in recognition of his significant contribution towards anti-tobacco movements in Bangladesh.

The award will be formally conferred on Rahman on the celebration of World No Tobacco Day today at Osmani Memorial auditorium in the capital.

In his earlier years as an academic and researcher in development economics he all along remained active in civil society campaigns against tobacco use; extensively engaging in writing, media appearances and lobbying efforts with the authorities for policy reforms.

Upon taking over as central bank governor in 2009, he introduced an anti-tobacco growing stance in credit policies, with an advisory circular dissuading banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh from extending credit facilities for growing tobacco.

Simultaneously, he has been promoting a well-orchestrated financial inclusion campaign to ensure that farmers get the needed financing support for shifting to growing other feasible and remunerative alternative crops.

Other awardees from South-East Asia Region are: Late Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Indonesian health minister; Praveen Mishra, secretary for health and population ministry of Nepal; Carlo Fonseka, chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol in Sri Lanka and Cancer Patients Aid Association in India; and Monika Arora, head of the Health Promotion and Tobacco Control, Public Health Foundation of India.

Earlier Rahman also received Sheltech Award (2010) for his outstanding contribution in developing the financial sector of Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque (2011) in recognition of his contribution to international cooperation towards human progress, and Nawab Bahadur Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury National Award 2012 by the Nawab Ali Hasan Ali Smriti Sangsad in recognition of his major contribution in banking and finance.

The Daily Star/ Bangladesh/ 31- May-2012

Alhaj Mohammad Hasan, chairman of the executive committee of Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited, presides over a meeting Monday.

The executive committee of Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited held its 485th meeting at the head office of the Bank Monday.

Alhaj Mohammad Hasan, chairman of the executive committee of the Bank presided over the meeting, said a press release.

The members of the committee discussed various issues relating to investment in different sectors.

Chairman of the board of directors Alhaj Anwer Hossain Khan, directors Alhaj Sajjatuz Jumma, Alhaj Akkas Uddin Mollah, Alhaj Engineer Md Towhidur Rahman, Alhaj Mohammed Solaiman, Alhaj Mohiuddin Ahmed, Alhaj Tofazzal Hossain, additional managing director Md. Mukhter Hossain and deputy managing director Md. Abdul Jabber Chowdhury were present.

The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 30th May 2012

Engr. Md. Eskander Ali Khan, chairman of the executive committee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited inaugurates a branch of the Bank at Sapahar of Naogaon Monday.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd has opened its 268th branch at Sapahar upazila in Naogaon.

Engr. Md. Eskander Ali Khan, chairman of the executive committee of the Bank inaugurated the branch as chief guest, said a press release.

Deputy managing director Mohammad Shamsul Haque presided over the opening ceremony.

Prof. Mohammad Nazrul Islam, director of the Bank, Alhaj Shahidul Alam Chowdhury, chairman of Sapahar upazila and Md. Abdul Gaffar, chairman of Potnitola upazila chairman were present as special guests.

Md. Shafiqul Mawla, executive vice president of the Bank and head of Bogra Zone delivered welcome speech.

The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 30th May 2012

Arif Dowla, Chairman of Mutual Trust Bank, presides over the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Bank at the Bashundhara Convention Centre in Dhaka.

Mutual Trust Bank Limited declared 12 percent cash dividend to its shareholders for the year 2011.

The announcement came at the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bank held at the Bashundhara Convention Centre in Dhaka, said a press release Monday.

The annual general meeting approved 12 percent cash dividend for its shareholders at the meeting.

Arif Dowla, Chairman of Mutual Trust Bank Limited presided over the meeting.

Syed Manjur Elahi, founder chairman of MTBL, Masud Ahmed Chowdhury, vice-chairman, Anjan Chowdhury, Khwaja Nargis Hossain, Abdul Malek and Wakiluddin, directors of the Bank were also present.

Arif Dowla thanked the customers, patrons, well wishers, shareholders and staff members for rendering continuous support over the years.

In 2011, MTBL earned profit after paying the tax amounting to Tk 404.22 million, while the value of earning assets was Tk 66,660.79 million. Earning per share of the Bank was Tk 1.59, according to the release.

The Bank’s balance-sheet footing increased by 32.68pc, comparing to the previous year. State of the art ATM network with 100 ATMs has emerged within just one year.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Bank and its foundation sponsored a number of socio-cultural activities to promote education, healthcare.

The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 30th May 2012

Alhaj Md. Nurul Islam, Chairman of Noman Group of Industries Limited and KS Tabrez, Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited, seen signing an agreement at the Bank's head office in Dhaka.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited singed an agreement with Noman Group of Industries on mobile banking services at the bank's head office in Dhaka.

Alhaj Md. Nurul Islam, Chairman of Noman Group of Industries Limited and KS Tabrez, Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective company, said a press release Tuesday.

Under the agreement, about 45,000 employees and workers of 28 industries of Noman Group will be able to get monthly salary through their DBBL mobile banking accounts.

The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 30th May 2012