Sheikh Hasina to inaugurate 4-lane roads in Rangpur next month

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 4-lane roads in Rangpur in June after completion of the construction works, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader said in Rangpur on Thursday.

The Minister said this while talking to the local media workers before visiting the constriction works of the 4-lane roads from Medical Mour to Darshona Mour points on the Rangpur-Dhaka National Highway in the city this noon.

Earlier, after arriving here from Syedpur Airport, Obaidul Quader formally inaugurated development works of a Black Spot at the road accident-prone Rangpur Medical Turning point on the National Highway-5 here in the city.

The Minister said that construction works of the expansion project of the 16.24 km long 4-lane roads in Rangpur city at Taka 126.58 crore will be completed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) within this month of May.

“After completion of the construction works, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will come to Rangpur and inaugurate the 4-lane roads sometime in June to fulfill her pledge and realise the hopes and aspirations of the local people,” he said.

The RHD has been implementing the expansion project of the roads in Rangpur city to 4-lane for under a master plan for easing communication and transport facilities in the process of building a traffic-jam free city.

Acting President of district Awami League (AL) Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, its General Secretary Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju, city AL president Shafiar Rahman Shafi, its General Secretary Tushar Kanti Mandal, district Chhatra League President Mehedi Hassan Ronny, leaders and activist of AL and its front organisations were present.

Additional Chief Engineer of Rangpur RHD Zone AQM Ekramullah, Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle Abdur Razzaque and Executive Engineer for Rangpur Division Abdullah Al Mamun, Police Super Abdur Razzaque and high officials accompanied the minister while visiting the 4-lane rods in the city. (Source: BSS)

56 entrepreneurs awarded CIP cards

A total of 56 leading businesspersons were awarded the status of Commercially Important Person (CIP) for the year 2014 for their contribution to industrialization and economic development of the country.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu on Thursday handed over the CIP (industry) cards among the entrepreneurs at a ceremony at a city hotel.

The CIPs have been selected under seven categories—ex-officio, large-scale industry, medium industry, small industry, micro industry, cottage industry and service industry.

A total of 12 people have been selected in the ex-officio category, 21 from large-scale industries, nine from medium industries, six from small industries, two from the micro, one from cottage industries, and five from service industries.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Amir Hossain Amu said the entrepreneurs have been keeping the country’s economy running, even after the destructive politics of BNP-Jamaat alliance, through their skills, professionalism and entrepreneurship approach.

“Bangladesh is advancing towards its desired destination maintaining over 6 per cent GDP growth since last six years and the businessmen have contributed significantly for it,” he added.

Terming the CIP card awardees as the ambassador of the country’s industrial sector, the Industries Minister said: “You people (CIP awardees) have to carry the message of the country’s industrialization abroad and the foreigners would come to know about Bangladesh’s potentials through you.”

He urged the businesspersons to produce quality products and branding Bangladesh abroad.

Industries Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, additional secretary M Farhad Uddin, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and Chairman of ACI Formulations Limited M Anis Ul Doula also spoke on the occasion.

The CIPs will enjoy a number of facilities until the announcement of the name of CIPs for the current year (2015).

The CIP card holders will enjoy a number of facilities including permission to enter Bangladesh Secretariat, participation in different national programmes and priorities on booking tickets for air, railway and waterways for business purposes.

The foreign ministry will also help the CIP cardholders to get visas, by issuing letters of introduction to the concerned embassies.

The CIPs will also have access to the VVIP lounges in the airports and their families will get priority in booking cabins at government hospitals for treatment. (Source: BSS)

Bangla Academy announces Rabindra Award 2015

Bangla Academy on Thursday announced Rabindra Award 2015 marking the 154^th birth anniversary of great poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Prof. Sanat Kumar Saha and singer Saadi Mohammad have been nominated for this year’s Rabindra Award, said a Bangla Academy press release.

The awards would be handed over at a function at Bangla Academy on May 10.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will give away the awards as the chief guest while Bangla Academy Chairman Prof. Anisuzzaman will preside over the function. (Source: BSS)

Bangladesh revenue board to expedite tax deduction at source

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is set to expedite the tax deduction at source (TDS) through capacity building and creating mass awareness about the importance and benefit of TDS.

These will include arranging training of taxmen and the officials and employees concerned at different government organisations across the country.

“Creating mass awareness about the TDS and ensuring that all related rules and regulations are being followed accordingly would help government get proper revenue”, Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said.

Bhuiyan was addressing a seminar on TDS at Sonargaon Hotel on Wednesday evening, organised by the Tax Administration Capacity and Taxpayer Services (TACTS) of NBR.

Terming the seminar a timely initiative, the cabinet secretary advised all secretaries to ensure that the TDS and VAT are deducted while disbursing money from their respective ministries.

Referring to the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman said the revenue authorities had been focusing on expansion of tax-net, instead of tax increase. He said the TDS would be an effective tool to this effect, but the officials concerned and people should be made more aware about it. Rahman said the NBR would step up its efforts to create and establish a sustainable, modern and pro-people tax administration and culture so the country could achieve the target of Vision 2021.

He said besides the tax officials at BCS Tax Academy and Custom, Excise and VAT Training Academy, officials and employees of different government organisations would also be given necessary training on TDS.

“NBR will also arrange training programmes at divisional headquarters to create awareness about the tax system”, he said.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Md Abul Kalam Azad and Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Masud Ahmed also addressed the seminar following presentation of the keynote paper by NBR member and project director of TACTS Parvez Iqbal. (Source: BSS)

http://bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=2&id=490538&date=2015-05-07

Bangladesh Bank laptop loan scheme for students on the cards

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has an initiative to provide loan at 4 percent interest rate on easy terms for the students of college and universities under a re-finance scheme to purchase laptop for acquiring knowledge by using ICT.

Central bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman has taken the initiative at the request of Information and Communication (ICT) Division, which has launched a number of training projects like Learning and Earning, Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance (LICT), Bari Bose Barolok to create skilled human resources in the country, said official sources.

“If we can give loan at 4 percent interest rate to the farmers on cultivating spices including onion, garlic, ginger why not the same interest rate could be given for the students to purchase laptop,” Dr. Atiur Rahman told a meeting on May 3 at the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division.

He said six percent subsidy will be required to launch a re-finance scheme by the BB for providing laptop loan at 4 percent interest rate for the students and the BB will try to get the subsidized amount from the finance ministry.

“We have already allowed Trust Bank to give laptop loan to the students at 10 percent interest and now we are contemplating to provide loan to the students at 4 percent interest under a refinance scheme,” Dr. Atiur added.

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr. A A M S Siddique and ICT Secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder were, among others, present at the meeting.

Sajeeb Wazed welcomed the BB Governor’s initiative and said the move will help materialize the government’s plan to build Digital Bangladesh as charted out in the vision 2021, said a source present at the meeting.

ICT Secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder said Bangladesh has many talented students in the colleges and universities and ICT Division has been creating skilled human resources by providing IT training to a large number of students.

If they were given loan at low interest rate to buy laptops they could exercise their latent talent in ICT and contribute to building Digital Bangladesh, he said, adding, “We have requested the BB governor to start a refinance scheme for giving a laptop at low interest rate and he responded very positively.

Earlier, at a function held at Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) auditorium for distribution of laptop to the poor meritorious students Dr. Atiur called upon all banks like Exim Bank Ltd. to use their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund for giving laptop to the meritorious students for educational purposes.

Exim Bank Ltd has already distributed 500 laptops free of cost to the poor meritorious students of Dhaka University, Shajalal Science and Technology University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) from their CSR fund and committed to provide 2000 more laptops.

“Distributing laptops to the meritorious students from CSR fund of the banks will help acquire knowledge on ICT as well as build a knowledge based society in line with Prime Minister’s Digital Bangladesh vision,” said the BB Governor.

As a follow up to the May 3 meeting, ICT Division in a letter requested the Finance Minister to provide the amount of subsidy to be required for launching the refinance scheme by the BB which would enable the graduate students to buy laptop with loan at 4 percent interest.

The letter said nearly six lac students are admitted into the universities after passing the HSC exams and they would greatly be benefited to learn and earn using ICT side by side their higher education. (Source: BSS)

GPH Ispat Ltd holds EGM

The Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of GPH Ispat Ltd was held at Ichamoti Hall, Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong on May 05, 2015 Tuesday at 11.30 am. 

The meeting was attended by a large number of shareholders. In the meeting the Shareholders unanimously approved the recommendation of the Board of Directors to raise Company’s Paid-up Capital by issuing 124,740,000 nos. Right Share at the ratio of 01(One) [R]:01(One), [i.e. 01 (one) right share for every 01 (One) existing Ordinary share held] at an issue price of Tk. 20.00 (including share premium of Tk. 10.00 each) subject to approval of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission.

The meeting was presided over by Mr. Md. Alamgir Kabir, Chairman of the Company while Managing Director Mr. Mohammed Jahangir Alam, Additional Managing Director Mr. Md. Almas Shimul,  Director Mr. Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Director Mr. Md. Abdul Ahad, Independent Directors Professor Dr. Mohammad Saleh Jahur and Mr. Md. Velayet Hossain, Executive Director Mr. A B Siddique FCMA, CFO Mr. Kamrul Islam FCA and Company Secretary Mr. Arafat Kamal ACA attended the meeting.

Mr. Mohammed Jahangir Alam, Managing Director outlined the future plans of the company and described the purpose of Rights Issue. He said the purpose of the Right Issue is for the enhancement of production capacity of MS Billet up to 1,008,000 M. Ton (per annum) and MS Rod/Section Product up to 760,000 M. Ton (per annum). It is to be noted that, at present the annual production capacity of MS Billet is 168,000 M. Ton and MS Rod is 120,000 M. Ton.

During the discussion the shareholders expressed their satisfaction to the performance of the company.

Finally the Chairman of the meeting Mr. Md. Alamgir Kabir thanked all the honorable shareholders, Bangladesh Securities & Exchange Commission, Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited, Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited, different bankers and other well wishers for their kind support and sought their co-operation to ensure further progress. (Source: press release)

ILFSL approves 5% cash dividend

The shareholders of International Leasing And Financial Services Limited (ILFSL) approved Cash Dividend of 5% for the year 2014.

The said approval came from the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held at Spectra Convention Centre in the city on May 07, 2015. Mr. Mahbub Jamil, Chairman of the company presided over the meeting. The members of the Board of Directors, a large number of shareholders and officials of the company were also present in the meeting.

In course of his speech, the Chairman announced that ILFSL reported net profit of Tk.125 million for the year 2014.  He also anticipated that ILFSL will move forward with its subsidiaries – International Leasing Securities Limited (ILSL) and IL Capital Limited (ILCL) in the future days.

Since inception in 1996, ILFSL has been offering diverse financial services like Lease Finance, Term Loan, SME Finance, Work Order Finance, Project Finance, Real Estate Finance, Primary Dealership Services, Stock Brokerage Services and Merchant Banking Services. It also receives deposits from individuals and Institutions under different attractive deposit schemes like Annual Deposit Schemes, Cumulative Deposit Schemes, Multiple Deposit Schemes and Income Schemes. (Source: press release)

Prime Bank signs agreement with Dhaka Imperial College

Prime Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Dhaka Imperial College. Deputy Managing Director of the Bank Habibur Rahman and Principal (In Charge) of Dhaka Imperial College Waliullah signed the agreement and exchanged the document on behalf of their respective organizations. Under this deal Prime Bank will collect tuition and other fees of students of Dhaka Imperial College. Head of Cash Management & Marketing Division of prime Bank SEVP A.O.M. Rashed along with high officials of both the organizations were also present at the program. (Source: press release)

United Hospital holds 194th board meeting

The 194th Meeting of the Board of Directors of United Hospital Limited was held at the Board room of the Hospital on Wednesday 6th May 2015.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Hospital and United Group Hasan Mahmood Raja presided over the meeting. Managing Director Faridur Rahman Khan, Directors of the Hospital and Senior Executives were present in the meeting. The members of the meeting discussed important issues relating to development and progress of the hospital. (Source: press release)

BRB Polymer Ltd MD Mozibar Rahman gets CIP (industrial) award

Mr. Mozibar Rahman, Managing Director, BRB Polymer Ltd. has received CIP (Industrial) award for the year 2014 from Honorable Minister Mr. Amir Hossain Amu, Ministry of Industries, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh at Hotel Purbani in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon in recognition of his outstanding performances in line with the CIP Policy (Industrial) 2012. President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed also attend the function. (Source: press release)

Union Bank signs agreement with Bangladesh Bank

An agreement on Refinance in SME sector has been signed between Bangladesh Bank and Union Bank Ltd. on 06.05.2015.

Deputy Governor Mr. Md. Abul Kashem, General Manager Mr. Swapan Kumar Roy on behalf of Bangladesh Bank and Managing Director Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid Miah, SEVP A B M Mokammel Hoque Chowdhury, Md. Nurul Islam, In-Charge, Investment Division and Md. Rafiqul Islam, In-Charge, Marketing and Development Division on behalf of Union Bank Ltd. were present on the occasion. (Source: press release)

Uttara Bank holds 2nd Branch Managers’ Conference in Bogra

Uttara Bank held the 2nd Branch Managers’ Conference-2015 (Bogra & Rajshahi Area) at Hotel Naz Garden, Bogra recently.

Shaikh Abdul Aziz, Managing Director and CEO of the Bank, addressed the conference as chief guest.

Deputy Managing Director Mohammed Mosharaf Hossain, General Manager and Zonal Head (Bogra) Md. Muzammel Haque, Deputy General Manager and Zonal Head (Rajshahi) Md. Abdul Khaleque  were also present in the occasion. (Source: press release)