TOKYO: Japanese and Chinese finance ministers today agreed to cooperate over contributions to the International Monetary Fund amid efforts to help subdue Europe’s sovereign debt crisis.

Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi and his Chinese counterpart Xie Xuren met in Tokyo as part of their regular dialogue, Jiji Press and Kyodo News reported.

Azumi told reporters that the two countries would discuss further funding to strengthen the IMF’s financial bases so that the Washington-based multilateral lender can play a more active role in preventing Europe’s debt crisis from dragging down global economic growth.

Azumi said that Japan and China have yet to decide on further financial contributions to the IMF.

“Although a critical moment of the European issue has gone, we can never be optimistic,” Azumi told reporters, according to Jiji.

After providing loans to help debt-wracked countries such as Greece, IMF chief Christine Lagarde has asked members to give the fund $500 billion extra for possible future bailouts.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 8th April 2012

Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid, Minister for Social Welfare seen at a blood donation function of AB Bank in the city on Saturday.

AB Bank has arranged a blood donation programme yesterday on the occasion of its 30th founding anniversary.

Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid formerly inaugurated the programme at the Bank’s head office, said a press release.

Lawmaker Nasrul Hamid Bipu also attended the function as special guest.

M Wahidul Haque, chairman and M Fazlur Rahman, managing director of the Bank and a large number of officers and staffs were present on the occasion.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 8th April 2012

MOULVIBAZAR: Different commercial banks disbursed loans amounting to about Taka 20 million among the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the region.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman handed over the loans to 200 entrepreneurs at a function at Tetuigaon Rashid High School ground under Kamolganj upazila of the district yesterday.

Of the total loans, National Bank has given Taka 480,000 while 22 other banks Taka 13.7 million.

Taka 470,000 of National Bank was disbursed as ‘open loan’ among the Monipuri weavers.

The BB governor disbursed Taka 13.7 million loan of 22 commercial banks among 64 women entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the occasion, the BB governor said Sylhet and Moulvibazar regions have immense potentials for their Monipuri handlooms and handicrafts.

The local entrepreneurs deserve the full credit for the present position of this industry in this region, he observed.

Dr Atiur stressed the need for ensuring fair prices of the products and resolving problems of marketing for expansion of Monipuri handloom and handicraft industries.

The Bangladesh Bank has identified Monipuri handloom and handicraft as a ‘prospective cluster’, he said and urged the commercial banks to help the cluster in flourishing.

Presided over by BB Sylhet Office General Manager Sultan Ahmed, the function was also addressed by National Bank Managing Director Neaz Ahmed, Moulvibazar District Council Administrator Azizur Rahman and Deputy Commissioner M Mosfafizur Rahman, among others.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 8th April 2012

Khandakar Md Ikbal has recently joined Sonali Bank as deputy managing director, the Bank said in a statement yesterday.

Prior to the joining, he was the chief executive officer of Sonali Bank (UK) Ltd. He started his career with Investment Corporation of Bangladesh as a senior officer in 1981.

A master's degree holder in accounting from Dhaka University, Ikbal also worked with Agrani Bank and ICB Asset Management Company Ltd.

The Daily Star/Bangladesh/ 8th April 2012

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited will strengthen its rural development activities through 'Rural Development Scheme' to eradicate poverty. 

The Bank introduced the scheme in 1995 to cater to the investment needs of the agriculture and rural sector of the country to create opportunity for employment and raising income of the rural people. 

"Rural sector occupies an important position in the pre-dominantly agricultural economy of Bangladesh and our Bank is committed to serve the rural economy through the scheme," the IBBL said in a statement.

The Scheme expanded its operations through 183 branches of the Bank in 13,373 villages of the country under 372 thanas of 61 districts. The rural poor are provided with investment facilites in agriculture and 343 selected off-farm economic activities in the rural areas starting from Tk.10,000/- to a maximum limit of Tk 0.3 million.

The amount of cumulative disbursement through this Scheme stood at Tk. 45086.32 million within the 6,24,591 investment clinets upto February 2012. 

The rate of recovery against the running investment is 99 per cent. Besides the investment activities, successful members, so far, have been provided 8,954 tube-wells with amounting Tk.17.71 million and 4,746 sanitary latrines amounting Tk.5.60 million on Quard-e-Hasana (profit-free investment) as a part of health and sanitation programme of the Scheme.

Financial Express/Bangladesh/ 6th April 2012