Private airline NOVOAIR on Sunday announced adding another aircraft to its fleet, saying it plans to increase the number of flights on domestic and international routes.

With the 68-seater ATR 72-500 aircraft, the company now has seven planes in its fleet.

The new aircraft landed at Dhaka airport at 2:30pm. Feroz Alam, Deputy Managing Director, directors and high official were present at the airport.

NOVOAIR, which started operations in January 2013, currently operates six flights daily from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar, five each to Chattogram, Jashore and Saidpur, two to Sylhet, one each to Rajshahi, Barishal and Kolkata.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) inaugurated its 354th branch in Kalamia Bazar area of Bakalia in Chattogram on Sunday.

Md Mahbubul Alam, Managing Director and CEO of the Bank inaugurated the branch as the Chief Guest, said a press release.

The programme was presided over by Mohammed Monirul Moula, bank’s Additional Managing Director where Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director was the special guest.

The programme was addressed by Hasne Alam, Md Abdul Jabbar and Md Saleh Iqbal, Deputy Managing Directors and Mohammed Shabbir, Executive Vice President, GM Mohammad Gias Uddin Quader, Executive Vice President of the bank.

Farzana Parvin, councilor of Chottogram City Corporation along with local businessmen and professionals were also present on the occasion.

United Commercial Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Bangladesh Police, Sylhet Range on e-trafficking prosecution and fine payment system.

DIG of Sylhet Range Md. KamrulAhsan BPM (Bar), Additional DIG of Sylhet Range  Joydeb Kumar Bhadra BPM; Sydul H Khandaker, Program Director of Digital Financial Services, UCB and  Hasan Mohammad Zahid, FAVP, MFS of UCB along with other officials of both the organizations were present in the signing ceremony held at Range DIG Office, Sylheton December 11, said a press release.

Under this agreement, people of four districts under Sylhet Range (Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, and Moulvibazar) will be able to pay their “E-Traffic Prosecution” fine through UCash.

RFL Plastics, a popular household plastic brand, has been awarded as the best brand under plastic category in the 11th edition of Best Brand Award Bangladesh at a city hotel on Saturday.

Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF) and Nielsen Bangladesh and in association with The Daily Star organised the programme.

The popular plastic brand was on the second position from the chart of 100 most loved brands, said a press release of RFL on Tuesday.

The winners were picked based on a survey of 4,000 consumers across the country. A total of 100 brands were recognised in 34 categories and overall top 15 brands were awarded from all the categories.

Kamruzzaman Kamal, Marketing Director of PRAN-RFL Group said “It is indeed a great achievement for us. Our popular brand RFL Plastics has received the best brand award for the 9 consecutive year. We thank our customers for their love and trust.” 

Al-Arafa Islami Bank Ltd (AIBL) has launched ‘Islamic Wallet’, a new Shariah-based digital mobile financial service for its clients.

Inaugurating the new service, Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir has urged all other Sharia-based Islamic backs to follow suit but cautioned to remain alert against risks.

“The use of hi-tech innovation may result in untoward risk but mitigation measures must be there,” he told the function at Le Meridian Hotel in the city on Tuesday.

AIBL Chairman Abdus Samad Labu, managing director and CEO Farhan R Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.

The AIBL officials said their ‘Islamic Wallet’ will provide Sharia–based digital services through a mobile app allowing users to make fast, secure and hassle-free online and mobile payments.

It will also allow cash-in and cash-out, fund transfer from bank accounts and cards, access to a range of lifestyle services, they said.

The wallet facilities also include person-to-business (P2B), payments such as bill payments, food delivery, mobile top–up, insurance premiums and loan installments.

The new service will also facilitate business-to-person (B2P) payments such as payroll and commission disbursement and government to person (G2P) payments such as subsidies, freedom fighters allowances, social welfare payments and endowments and person-to-government (P2G) like payments of government duties, taxes and fees.

Fazle Kabir said Bangladesh is now a $302 billion economy which is the 39th largest in the world and in June next it will be a $349-billion one.

He said this shows the potential of the economic development which requires huge technological development.

The Governor said although the conventional banks are very fast to introduce digital services the Sharia-based Islamic banks are far behind in this regard.

He said today 77 million Bangladeshis are using mobile-based financial services offered by 16 banks and two financial service providers under a conducive environment, while $145 million financial transactions are taking pace every day.