Business
PUMA keen to increase sourcing high-end garments from Bangladesh
PUMA, one of the leading sports brands in the world, is willing to increase apparel sourcing from Bangladesh, especially value-added sustainable products.
Anne-Laure Descours, Chief Sourcing Officer of PUMA, expressed the interest during a meeting with Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA on Thursday.
BGMEA Director Asif Ashraf and Branch Manager at Puma Bangladesh Moyeen Hyder Chowdhury were also present at the meeting.
Read BGMEA seeks govt support in implementing RMG industry's sustainable dev vision
During their discussions, Faruque Hassan highlighted the potential of Bangladesh as a sourcing country for value-added sportswear, activewear, outerwear, swimwear, and workwear.
He apprised the CSO of PUMA about the RMG industry’s increased focus on diversification of products, especially non-cotton and high-end segment.
He said Bangladesh’s apparel sector is giving priority to taking a turn from quantity to quality and volume to value.
Read BGMEA seeks faster delivery of raw materials through green channel
The BGMEA President requested PUMA to support and collaborate with their suppliers in Bangladesh to build their capacities in manufacturing value-added apparel products having higher market demand.
He assured PUMA of all-out support from BGMEA to expand its suppliers’ base and sourcing volume in Bangladesh.
Currently Bangladesh is the largest apparel sourcing hub for PUMA in terms of volume of garments.
Read BGMEA to participate in Apparel Sourcing Week 2022 in Bengaluru
Ensure uninterrupted ATM, POS, internet banking , MFS during Eid vacation: BB
Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed banks to ensure uninterrupted ATM, POS, internet banking, online e-payment gateway and MFS services during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation.
The payment system department of BB on Thursday issued a circular in this regard and sent it to the top executives of all the banks, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers and payment system operators.
The circular asked banks to arrange uninterrupted service of Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS), internet banking, online e-payment gateway and Mobile Financial Service (MFS) along with adequate manpower to solve instantly if trouble arises during the vacation.
Also read: BB tightens belt on forex reserve, bans import credit on luxury items
It also asked banks to keep enough money at the ATM booths , ensure security measures at the ATM outlets, set up note checking machine at the POS to avert the fake notes in the cattle markets across the country and other payment points to serve the traders and other customers.
Banks have to ensure Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for card based payment, card not present payment, said the circular.
MFS providers asked to ensure enough money at their agent point so that people can get service (Cash in and cash out) during the period.
Also read: BB asks banks to keep branches open in Dhaka cattle market areas on July 8,9
Besides, the central bank has asked banks and other payment gateway operators to take additional cautionary measures to stop any kind of forgery and scam during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation.
Switzerland keen to invest in Bangladesh’s disaster-prone areas
Switzerland has shown its keen interest to invest in the climate vulnerable areas of Bangladesh to reduce the risk of natural disasters.
Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard conveyed the interest during a courtesy call on Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim at Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday.
The Swiss envoy said her country wants to work in various sectors in Bangladesh for economic development from 2022 to 2025 marking the celebration of 50 years of cooperation between the two countries.
Read Bangladesh is a model country in disaster management: Hasina
“Switzerland wants to accelerate activities to face the challenges and impacts of climate change in the disaster-prone areas. We want to invest in the climate risk areas for adoption of the climate change and reduce the risk from it,” she said.
The envoy said Bangladesh has graduated from the least developed country status to a developing nation. Switzerland wants to contribute here. Some government and private organisations are interested to invest in the disaster-prone islands.
In response, the minister said both countries can exchange experiences in any field for mutual benefit. He suggested formation of a Joint Working Group to expand cooperation.
Read: Swiss Ambassador Chuard sees “massive potential” to boost trade, investment with Bangladesh
Minister Rezaul said, “Natural resources are very important for the economic development and growth of our GDP. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has adopted the Delta Plan for development for 100 years and she has already formed Delta Governance Council. We are using natural resources for the development of the country and meeting the demand for food and nutrition. Bangladesh has already made unexpected changes in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors due to various initiatives taken by the government.”
Banks set to provide Tk433 crore loans to tannery owners
Banks will provide Tk433 crore loans to tannery owners for purchasing rawhide after Eid-ul-Azha, the highest rawhide collection season in the country.
Of these loans, four state-owned banks (Sonali, Janata, Agrani and Rupali) will provide Tk 258 crore.
Of which, Janata Bank Limited has set a target of providing the highest amount of Tk 120 crore. Last year, the same amount of loans were planned to be distributed, but finally Janata Bank disbursed Tk 40 crore only.
Read: Govt hikes rawhide prices ahead of Eid
According to Bangladesh Bank (BB), the tannery owners will get bank loans of Tk 433 crore to buy raw hides. A portion of this loan has already been disbursed, the central bank sources said.
This year, Rupali Bank is giving loans of Tk 30 crore, Agrani Bank Tk 83 crore and Sonali Bank Tk 25 crore.
After the disbursement of loans in the leather sector in the nineties, most of the loans were not repaid. As a result,the private banks have stopped giving loans for this sector due to non-repayment culture of tannery ownets.
Read: Savar Tannery Estate: Guideline to be prepared over plot allocation
Now all the four state-owned banks are lending more to buy raw-hide. Apart from this, a few private banks are giving a small amount of loans.
Bank officials say there is a tendency among tannery traders to invest the loans money in other sectors. That is why they willingly become loan defaulters.
Walton launches 6 new models of All-in-One PCs
Walton Digi-Tech Industries Limited has launched six new models of All-in-One PC.
The PCs of Unify A24 and H24 series with eye-catching designs and many attractive features including a full HD display, Intel's 10th and 11th generation processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD. Prices of the All-in-One PCs vary from Tk 64,850 to Tk 97,550, the company said in a statement.
Walton has been producing and marketing several models of All-in-One PCs which have received positive feedback from customers. The new models have been released in the market with updated and new features due to the wide response from the customers.
Read Walton Primo R9 Review: Competitive in entry-level budget segment
Walton Computer Products Chief Business Officer Touhidur Rahman Rad said, “All-in-One PCs are nowadays more popular than desktop PCs as the devices occupy less space and can be easily carried anywhere. Users can perform heavy work than laptops using All-in-One PCs. Walton always produces and markets products according to the needs of the customers.”
The statement said the A24 and H24 series of All-in-One PCs feature Intel’s tenth and eleventh generation Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. All the variants have Intel's H510 chipset, 8 GB 2666 MHz, and 3200 MHz dual-channel DDR4 RAM, which can be expanded up to 64 GB. The graphics unit has Intel UHD 630 and 750 graphics. All models have 512 GB SSD storage and a 23.8-inch anti-glare full HD display with 1920X1080 pixel resolution.
Also Read: Walton scoops up RoSPA Health and Safety Gold Award
In addition to the Ethernet LAN port, there is built-in dual-band Wi-Fi for internet connectivity. Bluetooth is available for file-sharing or wireless connectivity and advanced built-in speaker facilities. A special feature of the device is the 5.0-megapixel camera which gives users an excellent video-conferencing experience.
Walton is providing up to 2 years of after-sales service on all models of All-in-One PCs. Customers are getting the fastest after-sales service from Walton’s 79 service centers across the country, it added.
Read Walton brings Arc CPU liquid coolers
Pay ‘Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms’ fees through Nagad
Nagad has facilitated an easy fee payment option for the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), to provide a simple bill payment process to the customers and uddoktas (Entrepreneurs).
From now on, more than 2 lakhs and 72 thousand registered companies can pay all types of fees like Name Clearance Application Fee, Registration Fee, and Certified Copy Fee through Nagad.
An agreement was signed in this regard recently at the head office of the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), Nagad said in a statement on Wednesday.
Read Technical, madrasa students to get stipends through Nagad
Shafayet Alam, Executive Director of Nagad, Saidur Rahman, Head of Business Sales of Nagad, Sohail S Tasneem, Head of Utility and Education Payment of Nagad, and RJSC’s Registrar (Additional Secretary) Sheikh Shoaibul Alam, Additional Registrar (Joint Secretary) Santosh Kumar Pandit, Deputy Registrar Ranajit Kumar Roy along with other officials were present during the event.
Under the agreement between RJSC and Nagad, customers and Uddoktas will be able to pay all types of fees of RJSC, including application fees, registration fees, and certified copy fees, through Nagad. Others fees will be collected in the coming days. As a consequence, consumers will be able to save both time and money by making fee payments safely and in a hassle-free manner via Nagad.
Also Read: Nagad launches service for paying Mastercard Credit Card Bill
Customers can make RJSC fee payments through the Nagad app or USSD *167#. Additionally, they can also pay the RJSC fee by visiting the nearest Uddokta point of Nagad. However, customers must incur a 1 percent tax up to Tk 100 while making the payment to RJSC.
To pay RJSC fees using the Nagad app, users must first pick the 'Bill Pay' option from the app's main screen. Then they have to provide the submission or the Reference ID by entering RJSC/1420. In the next step, customers will require to enter the amount of fee, PIN, and hold the tap option. The customer will receive a confirmation SMS after the payment has been processed.
In addition, customers who wish to pay the RJSC fee using Nagad USSD must first dial *167# and pick Bill Pay by dialing 5 and other options by dialing 12. Customers must next provide their account number and submission or reference ID. Customers will thereafter be able to successfully pay their bills by entering the bill amount and the PIN. A confirmation SMS will be sent to the customer’s phone once the bill payment is completed.
Read CMP to provide security to Nagad customer’s financial transactions
BB tightens belt on forex reserve, bans import credit on luxury items
The central bank has tightened spending on the foreign exchange reserve to judiciously meet the cost of importing essential commodities and fuel.
As part of this move, Bangladesh Bank has imposed restrictions on loans for importing 27 types of goods, reducing import demand which has increased by 44 per cent in recent months.
Read:BB asks banks to keep branches open in Dhaka cattle market areas on July 8,9
From now on, importers will not get bank loans for importing these products. Banks will not be allowed to use forex if the loan LCs was approved earlier.
The central bank directive stated that long-term negative effects of the corona and the recent prolongation of the war of Russia-Ukraine leads to instability in the global economy. To further consolidate the country's currency and debt management, the BB has directed to re-determine the cash margin rate in the case of opening of import bonds.
The directive stated that motorcars (sedans, SUVs, MPVs, etc.), electrical and electronics home appliances, gold and gold ornaments, precious metals and pearls, readymade garments, leather goods, jute goods, cosmetics, furniture and ornaments, fruits and flowers, - Certificate in respect of opening of securities for import of cereals (such as non-food items, processed foods and beverages, such as canned food, chocolate, biscuits, juices, soft drinks, etc.), alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tobacco products and other luxury goods, banks will have to maintain 100 per cent cash margin provision opening import LCs for these goods.
The required margin has to be deposited from the importers’ own source against the opening of import LCs for these products. No margin can be paid in favor of the importer in the concerned bank against the opening of the import loan by opening an existing loan account or by creating a new loan account.
In addition to baby food, essential food products, energy, life-saving medicines and equipment recognized by the Directorate of Health, medical equipment, directly imported capital equipment and raw materials for manufacturing local industries and export oriented industries, agricultural products and other government priority projects, minimum of 75 per cent cash margin should be maintained in case of opening import credit for all products.
Read: BB re-fixes mobile financial service money transaction limit
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former governor of BB told UNB that the central government has taken the right decision in discouraging such imports.
“The global economy is going into a volatile situation due to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and it is uncertain when the situation would improve,” he said.
So the crunch of forex spending is now important to avert any financial crisis, Salehuddin said.
Eid: No trade activities via Sonamasjid land port for 4 days
All import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through the Sonamasjid land port will remain suspended for four days during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays.
Abdur Rashid, general secretary of the Sonamasjid Land Port C&F Agents Association, said that trade activities will remain suspended from July 9 to 12 and resume on July 13.
How to Ace Government Examinations Without Coaching: The Sure-fire Way
Government jobs are some of the most lucrative opportunities out there. Every year, hundreds and thousands of graduates participate in some of the most competitive exams leading to prestigious positions. The fierce competition has given rise to so-called government job coaching centers. Some of whom are focused on cash grab opportunities rather than being an actual guide for the candidates. In that respect, the question arises, do students really need coaching to qualify in the government job examinations? The short answer is no and we’ll tell you why.
Step by Step Guide to Ace Government Examinations Without Coaching
First, ask yourself, why does anyone go to coaching centers for government examinations? Most of the examinations are aptitude based with a syllabus set from what the students have already learned in their 16 years of education before graduation. So why coaching centers?
First of all, the coaching centers are geared to be a guideline that will keep the students on track. It's normal to lose focus or procrastinate with the preparation while doing it on your own. A coaching center aims to eliminate the narcissistic approach and reign in the preparation.
Read Overcoming Exam Phobia: 10 ways to handle anxiety, fear of examinations
Now coming back to the point of not needing a coaching center, a student simply has to ensure that they don’t get sidetracked. As long as the students can keep their focus on the goal, coaching centers are simply a waste of money.
With that in mind, self-preparation can be divided into three stages.
Initial Stage – The Plan
The first stage will focus on gathering information and motivation. Start by the following.
Understand the Exam
Every government job examination has a fixed syllabus and question pattern. The first thing is to collect and go through the syllabus in detail. Another approach would be to buy a job solution guide that lists the previous year’s questions and their solution. Understanding the syllabus is key to planning the next strategies.
Read Moving abroad? Know the Pros, Cons of Migrating to a New Country
Collect Resources
Resources include study materials. There are tons of study materials that all claim to be the best in the market. Truth is, almost all of them are more or less the same. In this regard, focus on quality, not quantity.
Buy any one or two books as reference for each subject rather than going all out. This will not only keep you on track for a comprehensive preparation but also be light on your pocket. Check previous topper interviews. They often tend to list their study resources.
Secondary Stage – The Preparation
If you’re done with checking the syllabus and getting the resources, it’s time to move on to the next stage – the preparation.
Make a Routine
The most important aspect of government job preparation is simply being consistent with the preparation. And it all starts with making a feasible routine. Make an adequate 5 to 6 hours of study plan every day. A routine will immensely help to stay on track and be strategic with the preparation.
Read Goldilock Rule: How to stay motivated, take challenges in life, career, business
Set a Weekly Goal
The next target is to make small goals. Make a list of weekly learning targets and test yourself on the same. Study shows that human minds respond best when there is a sense of urgency involved. So a weekly targeted study will keep a student right on track.
Cutting Off Distractions
There can be a lot of distractions to studies. Part of the reason why most students go for coaching is to focus on studies staying away from distractions.
Some of the more common distractions include browsing social media, watching Netflix or Youtube, hanging out with friends, etc. Before you even realize it, they can severely hamper your preparation and create a backlog.
Read Best Free Websites to Improve English Writing Skill
So it's important to effectively cut off distractions during the preparation period leading up to the examinations. This is where a student will have to realize the opportunity cost of giving up socialization for securing a prestigious job opportunity.
Take Notes
From the context of Bangladesh, the government job examinations are more or less similar. They all follow a standard aptitude test style involving subjects covered in the secondary and higher secondary curriculum. Some specialized positions will have a specialized syllabus but for general positions, the syllabus remains more or less the same.
The reason why this is advantageous is that a student can appear in multiple examinations with a single combined preparation. In that regard, it is important to make notes. It's only human nature to forget things. Keeping a note will help to etch out important information in the head and revisit it when necessary.
Read How to ace a Job Interview?
The Stage-Wise Preparation
Most government jobs in Bangladesh hold their recruitment in three stages – preliminary exams, written and then viva. The period from one exam to the other is relatively less. So rather than just focusing on say just the preliminaries, make sure to go after the written and viva preparations as well.
Final Stage – The Execution
Revision
The final stages of the preparation shouldn’t be focused on learning new things. Instead, focus on revising what you have already learned and revisit them topically. Job examinations cover a wide range of topics so it's important to focus on what's already been learned rather than learning new things at the last moment.
Read Perfect Resume: 12 Effective Tips for writing professional CV
Practice
Practice is important for technical aspects like mathematics and critical reasoning. The more you practice, the better your chances become of acing the exam. So set aside a certain time each day for practice.
Self-Motivation
It's normal to feel panicked as the exam days close. Rather than panicking and feeling lost, try to motivate yourself to stay focused. In your free time, you can do yoga or watch motivational videos for mental peace. Overall, try to stay calm and not take unnecessary pressure.
Adequate Rest
The importance of rest cannot be stressed enough. Sometimes students get so carried away with last-minute preparation that they completely ignore rest and self-care. However, this does more harm than good. Adequate rest should be ensured for a clear and efficient mind during the exam.
Read Best Job Searching Websites in Bangladesh
Final Words
On the whole, whether students need coaching to succeed in the government job examinations, depends on style of hard work and preparation. Government job examinations are some of the toughest and most competitive exams out there. With the sheer volume of applicants against each opening, it doesn’t need much to say about the competition that goes behind. In such a scenario, a student can still ace them without having to spend sizable money for the coaching. All they need is the mental will, focus, and concerted effort as listed above.
Marcel provides up to Tk 8,000 discounts on television
Marcel is providing up to Tk 8,000 discounts on its 24–43-inch basic LED and Android smart television sets.
The customer benefits are being given under the ‘Best TV Deal’ campaign which can be availed by buying TV sets from any Marcel showroom across the country from July 1 and will be continued until further notice, the company said in a statement.
It said a discount of Tk 8,000 is being given on 43-inch basic LED TV. Customers can now buy the TV at only Tk 27,900. Another discount of Tk 6,090 is applicable for its 43-inch Android TV and customers are getting it at Tk 32,900. A discount of Tk 5, 000 is being given on Marcel's 32-inch Basic LED and Android TVs which now cost Tk 13,900 and Tk 22,900 respectively.
Also Read: Eid: Marcel Digital Campaign Season 15 begins
Meanwhile, a discount of Tk 5,000 is applied for Marcel's 40-inch basic LED TV. Customers are getting it at Tk 25,900 while Tk 4,000 discount is available for 40-inch Android TV and it costs only Tk 28,900. The 24-inch LED TV has been priced at Tk 11,900 under the Best TV Deal campaign.
Shakhawat Hossen, Head of Sales at Marcel, said, “Marcel televisions are enriched with the latest technology and features. TV sets of Marcel have gained huge popularity all over the country for affordable prices and the best after-sales services. Marcel TV features best screen quality, Dolby surrounds sound system, Google Android certification, and 178-degree large viewing angle along with many other technology and features.”
Currently, Marcel has a total of 25 models of basic LED and Android smart TVs ranging from 24 to 55 inches with prices ranging from Tk 11,900 to Tk 94,900.
Read Marcel feature phones hit local market