RFL has launched motorcycle helmet in the market with the aim of delivering high-quality helmets within the purchasing power of people. RN Paul, managing director of RFL Group, unveiled the cover of "Safemate" branded helmet manufactured for the first time in the country at a hotel in the capital on Thursday, according to a press release. Also read: RFL showcases products 6400 products at DITF 2023 The "Safemate" helmets are being manufactured at Durable Plastic Limited factory, a sister concern of RFL Group, located in Palash, Narsingdi. The factory has an annual production capacity of over 120,000 pieces. Initially, around Tk 20 crore has been invested in this factory, it said. The annual helmet market in the country is over Tk 500 crore at the moment. Almost all helmets used in Bangladesh are imported. About 60 percent of imported helmets come from India and the remaining 40 percent come from China, the release also said. Also read: PRAN-RFL bags 5 nat’l export trophies “Helmet is an important accessories for bikers. Apart from ensuring safety, it is mandatory for bikers and pillion riders to wear helmet as per the existing laws of the country. The number of motorcycle users in Bangladesh is increasing day by day due for various reasons including socio-economic conditions, lifestyle changes. For the same reason, the demand for helmets is also rising,” said the RFL MD. “The helmets available in Bangladesh are almost imported and most of the imported helmets are not of standard quality. The Safemate helmet is BSTI certified, which is the only one in Bangladesh. The main purpose of entering into this business is to deliver high-quality helmets within the purchasing power of people,” he said. Toukirul Islam, executive director of Durable Plastic Limited, said the main feature of Safemate helmet is that it is made of advanced ABS shell and PC material. It has high quality belt and locking system. Moreover, there is an advanced ventilation system to ensure the comfort of the user. Also read: RFL holds dealers' conference in UAE Initially two types of helmets will be available in the market. The half face helmet will have a maximum retail price of Tk 1,400 and the full face helmet will have a maximum retail price of Tk 2,250. "Safemate" helmets are available at superstores apart from shops that sell bike accessories and helmets, the release also said. Durable Plastic Limited’s Head of Marketing Esfaquel Hoque, Assistant General Manager (Operation) Nahid Kabir, PRAN-RFL Group’s Assistant General Manager (Public Relations) Touhiduzzaman and high officials of Durable Plastics Limited were present on the occasion. Read more: Motorcycle Helmet Buyer's Guide with Price Ranges in Bangladesh

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem has urged Pran-RFL Group to invest more in heavy industries.  "It will not only enrich our economy but also create huge employment in the country," he said while visiting the industrial park of Pran-RFL in Habiganj Tuesday. Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer of Pran-RFL Group, welcomed the NBR chairman. Abu Hena visited various manufacturing units of the industrial park, including biscuit, juice and beverage, confectionery, liquid glucose, transformer and bicycle. He also inaugurated new plants of noodles and cables. Ahsan said: "Pran-RFL's Habiganj Industrial Park has changed the overall economy of the district. Around 25,000 people are working in the industrial park." Read more: German engineering delegation visits Pran-RFL Industrial Park

Business conglomerate RFL is showcasing 6,400 products, including 120 new ones, at its two pavilions at the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2023. The group is also offering 10-35 percent discounts on the purchase of products, said a media statement Thursday. The first floor of the three-storey RFL Pavilion is showcasing household products, stationery, melamine, small toys, kitchenware, and medical equipment. Furniture, large toys and bicycles are available on the second floor. All the construction materials including cables, pipes and fittings are available on the third floor of the pavilion. The month-long DITF began on January 1 at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in the capital's Purbachal. Read more: Pran joins DITF 2023 with 800 products

Household plastic brand RFL Houseware has won the Best Brand Award in the plastic category. Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF) in partnership with Nielsen Bangladesh, and The Daily Star organised the 14th edition of the award at a city hotel Saturday. The winners of the award were picked based on a direct survey among consumers across the country. READ: RFL opens bicycle factory in Rangpur A total of 110 brands were recognised in 38 categories, and the top 15 brands won the awards. Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director of Pran-RFL Group, said, "Our popular brand RFL Houseware has received the best brand award for 12 consecutive years. It is indeed a great achievement for us."

To meet the growing demand for bicycles locally and internationally, RFL Group opened another factory at Gangachara in Rangpur on Thursday. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi inaugurated the bicycle factory Thursday. Apart from manufacturing bicycles, the factory will manufacture frames, forks, tires, tubes, and some other bicycle components. The factory has received an investment of around Tk60 crore and will employ around 1,000 people. Read: ADB delegation visits Pran-RFL Industrial Park RFL has been manufacturing and marketing bicycles since 2014. The first bicycle factory of RFL is located at Shayestaganj in Habiganj. The factory now has an annual production capacity of eight lakh pieces of bicycles. The company said its bicycles are now exported to 15 countries, including England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Belgium. Read: RFL brings Mini Cooper Car toy for children Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of Pran-RFL Group, said: "All the bicycles for the local market will be manufactured from this factory. The factory's annual production capacity will be six lakh pieces once it is fully operational."

RFL's toy brand Playtime has brought the Mini Cooper Car toy for children. RN Paul, managing director of RFL Group, unveiled the Mini Cooper Car in Dhaka recently. Read more: PRAN-RFL group wins six trophies for its export prowess. Kazi Rashedul Islam, executive director of Playtime Toy, said: "Currently, the trend of using different types of electric toy cars has increased among children. That is why we have launched this product." "This car can be used through remote control and be operated through an app. It can be used for more than four hours with a single charge. The maximum retail price of RFL Mini Cooper Car toy is Tk16,000," he added. Read More: Safe Toys for Children: Tips to avoid harmful playing objects

Pran-RFL Group has received the Bangladesh Business Awards 2021 for its contribution to the business sector. Planning Minister MA Mannan handed over the award to Pran-RFL Chair and Chief Executive Officer Ahsan Khan Chowdhury at a Dhaka hotel Friday. Read: PRAN-RFL targets $2 billion export by 2030 This year, one entrepreneur and two enterprises won the Bangladesh Business Awards for making significant progress in their respective areas in 2021. Pran-RFL received the award in the enterprise of the year category. DHL Express and The Daily Star introduced the Bangladesh Business Awards in 2000 to inspire and motivate the business fraternity to achieve greater heights of productivity. Read Bangladesh's Nuzhat Choudhury wins Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness Award

RFL Group has launched three new models of kitchen sink named Popular, Premium and Luxury.  Md Moniruzzaman, Director at Rangpur Metal Industries Ltd (RMIL), a sister concern of RFL, has launched the products through a programme held at the head office of RFL in the capital’s Badda on Saturday. The new products are made of high quality stainless steel. Whisper technology has been used in these kitchen sink for the first time in Bangladesh so that there should be no noise during use, said a media release.    Read: RFL holds dealers' conference in UAE The prices of products are between Tk 1,400 and Tk 4,200 and these sinks are available all over the country through authorized dealers, RFL exclusive point and Best Buy.  In addition, the products can be ordered through the popular e-commerce sitewww.othoba.com and rfleshop.com, it added.  “RFL kitchen sink has received a good response from the customers due to the quality of the products and designs. We always try to produce new products in our factory considering the customer’s demand. I hope, the consumers will get their desired products at reasonable price,” said Moniruzzaman.  Read RFL brings new cooker hood

Mobile financial services provider upay Thursday signed an agreement with business conglomerate Pran-RFL Group to make salary disbursement and merchant payment easier. Also, the upay customers will be able to make payments while buying products from more than 1,800 outlets of Pran-RFL Group's Best Buy, Vision Electronics, Walker, Tasty Treat, Mithai, Daily Shopping, Regal Furniture, and Othoba.com. "We are very happy that Pran-RFL Group has chosen upay to disburse the salary of their factory employees and accept payments at the retail outlets of various brands owned by the group," said Rezaul Hossain, managing director and CEO of upay. Read Pathao Courier to get upay cash collection solutions Uzma Chowdhury, chief financial officer of Pran-RFL, said: "We have chosen upay as they have some unique features which will be beneficial to our employees. After receiving salary in their upay salary wallet, Pran-RFL employees can cash out the money from upay points at a reduced rate. Upay account has a unique multi-wallet feature which includes a primary wallet, salary wallet, remittance wallet, and disbursement wallet.  Also read: upay signs deal with Titas Gas to facilitate prepaid bill payment Upay, a subsidiary of United Commercial Bank, was launched in March 2021.

Rangpur Metal Industries, a concern of RFL, has brought a new cooker hood. "The cooker hood has different features including automatic motion sensor, touch control switch, auto heat clean technology, tempered glass panel, and stainless steel filter," Rangpur Metal Industries Director Md Moniruzzaman, who unveiled the product at an event in the capital recently, said. Read RFL brings app-controlled geysers RFL now has eight different types of cooker hoods of different sizes. The price ranges of cooker hoods are between Tk7,060 and Tk31,765. Also read: Pran-RFL bags 5 national export trophies