Business
Brac Bank brings exciting offers for book lovers at Boi Mela
Brac Bank customers will enjoy significant discounts and cashback at Amar Ekushey book fair partner shops.
The debit and credit cardholders will enjoy discounts up to 35 percent and credit cardholders will get 10 percent cash-back (up to Tk 200) on their purchases from selected publisher outlets. The offer is valid throughout February, 2024.
Read: BGMEA observes Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day
The partner outlets include Annesha, Prothoma, Babui, Kakoli, Batighar, Annaprakash, Pathak Shamabesh, Ghankosh, Shapla, Annanya, Rokomari, Oitijya, Kobi Prokashani, Nalanda, Katha Prokash etc.
Customers must spend at least Tk 500 in a single transaction to be eligible for a cashback offer.
The discounts and cashback are available for POS, e-commerce and QR (Including bKash and Bangla QR) payment systems.
The offer is an immense delight for book lovers as they can purchase their favourite books from the month-long book fair at Bangla Academy, where all renowned publishers come with their publications.
Read: Suspicious transactions increased by 64.57 percent in FY 2022-23: BFIU
Commenting on the offer, Md. Mahiul Islam, Deputy Managing Director & Head of Retail Banking of BRAC Bank, said, “Brac Bank always brings in exciting offers on special occasions. Amar Ekushey book fair is a part of Bangladesh's culture, and the nation waits for it.”
BGMEA observes Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) observed the solemn occasion of 'Amar Ekushey' and the International Mother Language Day with a rich tribute to the Language Movement martyrs.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan along with by Senior Vice President S. M. Mannan (Kochi) paid their respects by laying wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Wednesday, said a media statement.To uphold the spirit of Bangla and commemorate the Language heroes, BGMEA took an initiative that the RMG products exporting from Bangladesh tags would have written "Bangladeshe Toiri" alongside "Made in Bangladesh" in English.
Language Martyrs’ Day, International Mother Language Day observed in New Delhi
Now garments with the words "Bangladeshe Toiri" in Bangla, alongside the familiar "Made in Bangladesh" in English written in tags are being exported by Bangladesh to the world.
This distinctive initiative aims to not only celebrate the linguistic heritage of Bangladesh but also to convey a strong message to the world about the country's cultural pride and linguistic identity.
Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day observed in Japan
AirAsia recognizes outstanding 20 top travel agencies in Bangladesh
AirAsia celebrates yet another significant milestone, recognizing and applauding the continuous efforts of its travel agents in Bangladesh at the AirAsia Agents Conference 2024.
The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Thailand Ambassador to Bangladesh Makawadee Sumitmor, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Aviation Group, Bo Lingam, Chief Revenue and Network Officer of AirAsia, Paul Carroll, Chairman of TAS GrouK M Mozibul Hoque as well as other board members.
Notable dignitaries from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and embassy officials were also in attendance, highlighting the significance of the occasion held at the prestigious Pan Pacific Sonargaon Ballroom.
Organized by Total Air Services Limited (TAS), a subsidiary of TAS Group, this conference serves as a platform to honour top-performing agents that have excelled in sales through the General Sales Agents (GSA) of AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Thailand in Bangladesh.
The AirAsia Grand Agents Grand Conference 2024 also aims to strengthen existing partnerships with agents whilst fostering a sense of community and appreciation, bringing together key stakeholders comprising top travel agencies, airline executives, government officials and industry leaders.
During the conference, AirAsia bestowed prestigious awards to 20 top-performing travel agencies in Bangladesh with pivotal achievements.
These agencies were commended for their exceptional sales performances and steadfast support in promoting AirAsia's offerings to travellers across the country.
Additionally, AirAsia expressed its heartfelt appreciation to 16 travel agencies for their exemplary sales support, presenting them with certificates of recognition.
AirAsia Aviation Group Limited Group CEO, Bo Lingam said: “I would like to wholeheartedly commend the dedicated travel agents in Bangladesh for their continued effort and congratulate our well-deserving agents on their outstanding accomplishments. The diligence of their craft is truly inspiring to us all. Bangladesh is one of our most important markets in Asia, with AirAsia having flown 503,628 guests between Malaysia and Bangladesh to date - and counting. I look forward to welcoming more achievements by the team, further cementing the AirAsia brand in the country.”
Total Air Services Limited (TAS) has been a trusted partner of AirAsia Malaysia since 2015, serving as the airline’s General Sales Agent (GSA) i n Bangladesh.
Over the years, TAS has demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to promoting AirAsia's services i n the region and beyond.
AirAsia currently operates 14 weekly flights from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur and 2 weekly flights between Dhaka and Bangkok, providing travelers with convenient and affordable travel options to various destinations.
This strategic partnership between TAS Group and AirAsia continues to drive growth and innovation in the aviation industry, contributing to the development of Bangladesh.
DITF receives Tk392 crore export orders, Tk 400 crore selling goods and services at fair venue
Goods and services worth close to Tk400 crore were sold during this year's Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), while the export orders - the main purpose of the fair is to attract contracts for export abroad - fell short of even that, coming in at Tk 392 crore.and got export orders received around Tk392 crore at the 28th edition of the fair.
The month-long fair ended on Tuesday (February 20) through a closing ceremony and awarding the traders in different categories. The event was held at the DITF venue in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BBCFEC) in Purbachal, 16.6 km east of Dhaka City.
Read: Islami Bank opens Premier Stall at DITF
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu as the chief guest distributed awards, among the winners.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior secretary of commerce chaired the event, while Mahbubul Alam, President of FBCCI, and AHM Ahsan, Vice-Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) were present as the special guests.
Read: HATIL gets first award as best furniture manufacturer category at DITF-2024
This year's trade fair has sold products worth about Tk 400 crore. Apart from this, export orders worth around Tk 392 crore have been received at the fair, according to the information from the Ministry of Commerce.
According to the ministry notification, the export orders this year is more than 17.25 percent and the sold volume is more than 15 percent compared to the previous year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair on January 21. After a month the DITF wrapped up on February 20. The Ministry of Commerce and the Export Promotion Bureau have organised trade fairs since 1995.
The DITF typically commences on 1 January each year. However, the EPB postponed this year's fair due to the 12th national elections.
Read more: Look for new markets for Bangladesh's products: PM Hasina at DITF opening
HATIL gets first award as best furniture manufacturer category at DITF-2024
HATIL Furniture got first prize in the best furniture manufacturer category in the 28th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2024.
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, as the chief guest, distributed awards among the winners in different categories in the closing ceremony of the 28th edition of the trade fair on Tuesday (February 20).
HATIL Chairman Selim H. Rahman received the "Best Furniture Manufacturer Award" from the state minister for commerce in the closing ceremony.
The event was held at the DITF venue in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BBCFEC) in Purbachal, 16.6 km east of Dhaka City.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior secretary of the Commerce Ministry, chaired the event, while Mahbubul Alam, president of FBCCI, and AHM Ahsan, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), were present as special guests.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair on January 21. After a month, the DITF was closed on February 20. The Ministry of Commerce and the EPB have organised trade fairs since 1995.
The DITF typically commences on January 1 each year. However, the EPB postponed the fair due to the 12th national election.
Biman hosts farewell for Aviation Authority Director
In a ceremony held on Tuesday at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Headquarters, Biman Bangladesh Airlines bid farewell to Group Captain Mukeet-Ul-Alam Miah, the outgoing Director of Flight Standard, Regulations and International Affairs (DFSR).
Simultaneously, a warm welcome was extended to Group Captain Ahsan Habib, the newly appointed DFSR, according to press release.
The event, organized by the Flight Operations Directorate of Biman, was attended by high-ranking officials from both Biman Bangladesh Airlines and CAAB.
Among the key representatives from Biman were Director of Flight Operations Capt Siddiqur Rahman, Director Corporate Planning and Training Capt Aminul Islam, Head of Planning and Scheduling Capt Ishtiaque Hossain, Dy Chief of Training Capt Taposh Ahmed, Dy Chief of Technical Capt Shumeila Siddiqua Hussain, and Dy Chief of Flight Safety Capt Intekhab Hossain, said the release.
The farewell ceremony drew the presence of distinguished guests, including officials from CAAB and representatives from leading airlines such as US Bangla, Novo Air, and Air Astra. The occasion marked a significant transition in leadership within the aviation sector, as the industry bids farewell to one leader and embraces the vision of another.
Suspicious transactions increased by 64.57 percent in FY 2022-23: BFIU
Suspicious Transactions Reports (STRs) have increased by 64.57 percent in the fiscal year 2022-23, compared to the FY2021-22 in the country.
This information has been revealed in the annual report of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) for the fiscal year 2022-23. The BFIU was established as a wing of the BB in 2002 to protect money laundering and terror financing.
Masud Biswas, chief of BFIU, presented the report in a press conference in the conference hall of Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday.
Read: DCCI seminar urges sustainable policy reforms for trillion dollar economy
He said that in the fiscal year 2022-23, there were 14106 suspicious transactions reports. The STRs increased by 64.57 percent or 5535 in one year. In the previous fiscal year 2021-22, this number was 8571 and in the fiscal year 2020-21, it was 5280.
The BFIU chief said that all the STRs are not true, after identifying any such transactions, the BFIU investigated the issue. Whenever they got evidence of any crime action was taken against them, he said.
Masud said that 80 percent of money laundering is happening through the banking system. If banks do not cooperate to stop such transactions, it isn't easy to control money laundering. Because once money is laundered, it cannot be brought back.
He said that the BFIU works to sign MoUs with 10 countries to bring back the smuggled money and cooperate to stop it.
Read: FBCCI wants strong role from commercial counsellors at missions abroad to capture new export markets
In response to a question, the head of the BFIU said that 59 cases of money laundering have been registered based on the information of the BFIU. Among them, the ACC has filed 47 cases, CID 10, and NBR's special cell 2. These are not settled yet.
According to the BFIU report, banks have submitted a maximum of 12809 suspicious transaction reports in the entire fiscal year of 2022-23. The banks submitted 7999 reports in the previous fiscal year. Financial institutions submitted 121 reports. And the money exchange houses have submitted 900 reports.
BFIU Executive Director Rafiqul Islam, Director of Foreign Exchange and Policy Department of BB Sarwar Hossain, and Additional Director Kamal Hossain were present at the press conference.
OPPO A17k now available at Tk 11,990
Smartphone manufacturer OPPO has announced a price reduction for its popular OPPO A17k smartphone, effective February 11.
The stylish and feature-rich OPPO A17k is now available at Tk 11,990, down from its previous price of Tk 12,990, offering users in Bangladesh exceptional value without compromising on quality, according to a press release.
Despite being a budget friendly phone, this device comes packed with 7GB RAM expansion technology, mega storage of 64GB and IPX4 water resistance for an all-round performance that exceeds customer expectations, it said.
Available in two colors of Blue and Navy Blue, this device is a beauty as it flaunts the premium flat edge design, with a thickness of only 8.3mm and a weight of only 189g. OPPO A17k is powered by 2.3GHz Octa-Core Helio G35 processor and a massive 5000mAh battery with a smart power management system for the ultimate efficiency.
The device also dons an 8MP rear camera along with a 5MP front camera, along with a 6.56-inch HD Color Rich Display and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, said the release.
This price reduction underscores OPPO's dedication to providing high-quality smartphones at competitive prices, empowering users to stay connected and productive without breaking the bank.
DCCI seminar urges sustainable policy reforms for trillion dollar economy
In a seminar organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) on February, Ashraf Ahmed, President of DCCI, emphasized the need for sustained efforts to achieve a trillion-dollar Smart economy.
Addressing the audience, Ahmed outlined key factors such as reducing the cost of doing business, improving ease of business, regulatory efficiency, infrastructure development, energy security, logistics enhancement, and ensuring private sector access to finance.
President Ashraf Ahmed presented a keynote paper at the seminar, underlining the importance of product and market diversification. He highlighted a targeted private sector investment of 27.4% of GDP in FY2024, an increase from 21.8% in FY2023.
Ahmed urged for policies considering the LDC graduation and proposed lower corporate tax, complete automation of taxation, expanded tax net, and reforms of SD and Vat act.
Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, served as the Chief Guest, emphasizing the fundamental changes in Bangladesh's economy over the last decade.
He stressed the need for consistent policies to expedite private sector investment and foster foreign direct investment (FDI). Dr. Rahman also highlighted the importance of export diversification, value addition, and identified pharmaceutical and light engineering sectors as potential areas for growth.
Chief Economist of Bangladesh Bank, Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, discussed global geo-political instability's impact on essential prices. He announced the introduction of the Crawling Peg system to control the exchange rate and a roadmap to reduce industrial sector Non-Performing Loans (NPL) to 8% within two years. Bangladesh Bank will maintain a contractionary monetary policy until inflation reaches 6%.
Former DCCI President Shams Mahmud emphasized proactive policies for the sustainable future of the RMG sector. He urged the government to ensure affordable energy prices and uninterrupted gas supply for industries. Mahmud also called for expedited development of local import substitute industries post-LDC graduation, a rationalized taxation system, and continued support for CMSMEs.
Dr. Ashikur Rahman, Senior Economist at PRI, highlighted the negative impact of macroeconomic instability on the private sector and stressed the need for decisive action against NPL. He urged attention to the tax-GDP ratio, hovering around 10%, and emphasized skill development and financial sector reforms.
Research Director at PRI, Dr. Mohammad Yunus, pointed out extortion at retail markets as a factor contributing to inflation. He advocated for better coordination among BEZA, BEPZA, and Economic Zones Authority to attract FDI, suggesting the utilization of BSCIC's industrial plots on a cluster basis.
BGMEA organizes first-ever Bangladesh Heritage Festival 2024 to promote culture, heritage
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) organized the first-ever Bangladesh Heritage Festival 2024 at the BGMEA Complex in the capital’s Uttara on Sunday to promote and celebrate the cultural and heritage treasures of Bangladesh.
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan presided over the opening ceremony of the three-day cultural festival that takes place from February 18 to 20.
Charles Whiteley, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, Francisco de Asis Benites Salas, Ambassador of Spain in Bangladesh, renowned artists Mohammad Eunus and Gulshan Hossain attended the opening ceremony which was also joined by BGMEA Directors Asif Ashraf, Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan and Neela Hosna Ara.
Earlier this day, BGMEA organized a press conference where Faruque Hassan gave an overview of the Bangladesh Heritage Festival 2024, including its features and objectives.
The festival aims to showcase and celebrate the rich cultural and historical heritage of Bangladesh like weaving industry people, Jamdani, Muslin, Khadi, Gamcha, Monipuri cloths, Pottery (Teppa dolls, Shokher Hari, Terracotta), Handicraft, Nakshi Katha, Jute products, Cane, Shitalpati, and the 6th World Heritage recognized Rickshaw Painting and many more.
The event features an exclusive fashion show, cultural performances, exhibitions, art and craftsmanship that make Bangladesh unique. Throughout the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the diverse cultural heritage that Bangladesh has to offer.
A key highlight of the festival is a painting exhibition featuring renowned artists’ works on the ground floor of the BGMEA Complex, showcasing the beauty of the country’s heritage.
A total of 40 stalls are participating in the festival, exhibiting local products that express the essence of Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.
The event also includes a mesmerizing fashion show featuring high-end garments made from Jamdani, Muslin, Khadi, and other traditional fabrics. The festival will also have Bengali folk music performances.
On the first day, renowned actress and dancer Sadia Islam Mou and her troup made dance performance at the festival.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Bangladesh’s cultural treasures.
He stated, “By presenting our rich heritage and culture to the world, we can brand ourselves and create an opportunity to export garments linking the rich culture and heritage of Bangladesh with fashion, thus contributing to economic growth. It is crucial to promote heritage products, such as Jamdani, Khadi, and various handlooms internationally.”
Faruque Hassan called upon everyone to use more local products and celebrate the country’s heritage and culture. “Let us all contribute to elevating our beloved motherland to a glorious position in the international arena from our respective positions,” he urged all.