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Walton now commercially produces printed circuit boards
Walton Digi-Tech Industries is now producing printed circuit boards (PCBs) as the first Bangladeshi company.
The company is commercially manufacturing various types of sophisticated PCBs following European standards and advanced technologies. The PCBs include single layer, double layer, multi-layer and HDI.
PCB is one of the major components of electrical, electronics and technology products as it is connected to various chips and electrical circuits (ICs). It creates paths and ensures the flow of electricity in different parts.
Engineer Md Liakat Ali, deputy managing director of Walton Digi-Tech, said the Walton PCBs are being manufactured using state-of-the-art European machinery through experienced engineers and technicians.
"There is a huge demand for PCBs in Bangladesh as the local entrepreneurs depend on imports which are quite expensive. Sometimes, they face delays while sourcing PCBs from abroad," Liakat said.
"Walton's PCBs can be used in all types of electrical and technology devices, including computer, television, remote control, LED light, mobile charger, UPS, fan, switch socket."
Othoba.com launches 12.12 campaign Sunday
E-commerce platform Othoba.com will launch the 12.12 campaign Sunday.
The customers will enjoy special discounts during the day-long campaign.
Nur Mohammad Rasel, head of business at Othoba.com, said: "We have come up with more than 10,000 products on our website. Customers can enjoy up to a 93 per cent discount."
"Also they will get a free home delivery service after purchasing a specific amount of products," he added.
50 years of independence: Nagad offers 50% discount on Chorki subscription
On the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, mobile financial service Nagad is offering a 50 per cent discount for the subscribers of the over-the-top (OTT) platform Chorki.
The offer was launched recently and will run until January 6.
Niaz Morshed Elite, executive director of Nagad, made the announcement during the release of the trailer of the "Jago Bahe" web series, presented by Nagad, at a hotel in the capital.
Redoan Rony, chief operating officer of Chorki, makers of "Jago Bahe," artists of the series, and the crew were present.
Viewers can enjoy this original series as premium content from Chorki's app and website.
To enjoy the 50 per cent discount through Nagad, they will have to choose a subscription package for one month, six months or a year.
4 Pran-RFL companies get 'Green Factory Award'
Four companies of Pran-RFL Group have received Green Factory Award 2020.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually joined the award-giving programme as the chief guest.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian handed over the award on behalf of her at a programme in the capital Wednesday.
Read PRAN-RFL Group to generate 5,000 jobs in Rajshahi
The labour and employment ministry introduced the award this year to encourage local industries to invest in green measures.
The Green Factory award was been given in six categories.
Habiganj Agro Limited, a sister concern of Pran, received the award in the food processing category; RFL group sister concerns Banga Building Materials Limited, Allplast Bangladesh Limited and Durable Plastics Limited in the plastic category.
Read PRAN-RFL Group distributing food among 40,000 families
Kamruzzaman Kamal, director (marketing) at Pran-RFL group said, "We have given utmost importance to the environment while designing our factory buildings, infrastructure and other installations and follow the eco-friendly process in every step – from production to marketing."
Govt takes Tk 85bn-plan to develop both sides of Teesta River: Tipu Munshi
The government has taken up a massive Tk 85 billion industrialisation and development programme for Rangpur division, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said on Sunday.
He said the plan has already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Read:Commodity prices to come down in line with global market rate: Tipu Munshi
He was speaking as the chief guest at an event to distribution scholarship money to the children of late members of Rangpur Division Journalists Association (RDJA) in Dhaka.
The work on upgrading Saidpur Airport to international standard is going on, Tipu said adding that Rangpur is moving forward with various economic activities.
An agriculture university will be established soon in Kurigram, he mentioned.
He lauded the RDJA for introducing the scholar programme for the children of late journalists.
Read: Bangladesh needs concerted efforts to avail new GSP plus in EU: Tipu Munshi
RDJA president Moksedur Rahman Masu, former Dhaka Reporters Unity President Shafiqul Karim Sabu also spoke at the event.
The scholarship money, Tk. 3000 a month, was handed over to 10 children. They will continue to get it as long as they continue their study.
Women entrepreneurs ‘struggling to survive’ in aftermath of pandemic
Speakers at a webinar on Thursday called for focusing support to SMEs, particularly women entrepreneurs, as they are struggling to survive.
Women-led enterprises in Bangladesh have long faced policy hurdles in accessing finance from formal channels. Financial institutions are also reluctant to provide loans to women entrepreneurs, including under government announced stimulus packages, they said.
Just 5.6 percent of recipients of the government- announced Tk 200 billion stimulus package for the small- to medium-sized enterprises (SME) are women, and they are mostly urban-based, they added.
Amid all the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs, the topic of gender inclusion has gained momentum among the investor circle.
Read: BGMEA seeks Russian support for RMG exports
Apart from providing capital to women entrepreneurs, it is also essential to acknowledge that additional support to build women networks and create opportunities for women to rise to leadership positions through organizational policies are also essential tools to promote women’s economic participation.
The SME sector contributes 20-25 percent to Bangladesh’s GDP. If female entrepreneurs get necessary support, then the sector’s contribution to GDP would increase, they observed.
Addressing in the webinar titled ‘Gender inclusion through investing’, they insisted on improving women’s access to finance and to adopt a gender-lens approach throughout the investment lifecycle, including the origination and selection process.
A panel of investors, entrepreneurs, lawyers and intermediaries joined the discussion to share their unique experiences and perspectives for the audiences to better understand how impact can be amplified to improve gender inclusion through investments.
Sylvana Q. Sinha, Founder, Chair, & CEO at Praava Health; Anita Ghazi Rahman, Founder and Managing Partner at The Legal Circle; and Bijon Islam, Co-Founder and CEO at LightCastle Partners; discussed about the potential of gender inclusion through impact investing in Bangladesh. Nirjhor Rahman, CEO of Bangladesh Angels, shared the latest update from the Bangladesh Women Angels Network chapter, which is going to be launched soon.
Read: Investment proposals grow 46.33 pc in July-September 2021: BIDA
The session was moderated by Maxime Cheng, Lead Market and Capacity Building Program at Roots of Impact.
B-Briddhi is a multi-year partnership between the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, Roots of Impact, LightCastle Partners, and other stakeholders including investors, private sector organisations, incubators, and support organisations for impact enterprises.
BGMEA urges BBCCI to promote more trade between Bangladesh, UK
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has called upon the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI) to help Bangladesh draw more foreign investment; project a positive image and protect the interests of the country internationally.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan urged the association to explore more trade and investment opportunities and areas of cooperation between the UK and Bangladesh.
Read: BGMEA calls for investment in high value-added, non-cotton textile
Faruque made the call during a meeting with BBCCI President Bashir Ahmed, who paid a courtesy visit to the BGMEA office in the capital Thursday.
The BGMEA president sought the BBCCI's support in encouraging British businessmen, including Bangladeshis living in the UK, to invest in different potential sectors of Bangladesh such as high value-added and non-cotton textile.
He also urged the BBCCI to encourage the Bangladeshi community in the UK to give preference to garments made in Bangladesh during their shopping and also present them as gifts to their foreign friends.
Read:BGMEA for improving nutritional status of workers to boost efficiency, productivity
It would not only increase demand for Bangladeshi apparel in the UK market but also contribute to promoting the "Made in Bangladesh'' brand among the British citizens, he added.
BGMEA Vice-President Miran Ali, BBCCI North East Region President Mahtab Miah, Bengal Dutch International Managing Director GR Choudhury and Asian Tiger Capital Partners Chairman Ifty Islam were also present.
Retail LPG price declines by Tk 85 in 12kg container
The price of private operators’ liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been decreased by Tk 85 to Tk 1228 per 12-kg container from Tk 1313 with effect from 6 am Friday (Dec 3) at the retail level.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price at a press briefing on Thursday.
As per the announcement, the prices for other quantities of the LPG will also go down in line with the new price at the same ratio. The price of autogas for motor vehicles was also cut down to Tk 57.24 from the present price of Tk 61.18 per litre.
Read: Appeal for LPG price hike: decision on Sunday
Announcing the new price, BERC Chairman Abdul Jalil said the price of retail LPG has witnessed the fall as the bulk LPG of Saudi contract price (CP) has declined globally.
“Saudi CP price has declined to $765.75 from the previous price of $850 per metric ton. Bangladesh’s private LPG operators buy the bulk LPG on the basis of the Saudi CP,” he told reporters at the virtual briefing.
The other members of the BERC were present on the occasion.
The BERC chairman said the price of the state-owned LP Gas Company’s LPG will remain unchanged as it has no relation with the global market price.
Read: Beximco LPG sings deal with Jamuna Oil to sell LPG at pumps
LPG industry insiders said the Saudi CP is normally announced at the end of every month to make it effective for the next month and it takes 7-10 days for a shipment of the fuel to arrive in the country.
Most Bangladeshi private companies import their bulk LPG from the Middle East on the basis of Saudi CP and market it locally.
Responding to a question the BERC chairman said the commission is the legitimate responsible body to fix the prices of all petroleum products including petroleum fuels as per the BERC Law.
“In line with the law the commission forwarded a proposal to formulate the necessary rules in this regard to the Energy Division. But still the file did not return to BERC”, he added.
The BERC for the first time fixed the retail-level LPG price on April 12 after holding a public hearing to comply with a High Court order.
Rangs, Paperfly ink deal to deliver goods within 48 hrs
Rangs Industries Limited has partnered with Paperfly for nationwide high speed doorstep product delivery within 24-48 hours.
Rangs Industries Executive Director Quazi Ashiq ur Rahman and Paperfly’s co-founder & chief marketing officer Rahath Ahmed signed an agreement recently.
Read:Islami Bank CEO bullish at branch opening
Rangs Executive Director Quazi Ashiq ur Rahman said, “We are producing the international-standard products with well-equipped research and development facilities. The strong network of Paperfly will help to reach the products to the doorsteps of customers.”
“Paperfly is well-known for high-speed doorstep pickup and doorstep delivery of any size of products within 24 to 48 hours all over Bangladesh with the strength of 216 delivery points across the country,” he said.
Read:upay wins fintech innovation award for its multi-wallet feature
Rangs Industries corporate affairs head Fahim Adnan Khan, RANCON Electronics head of distribution Mir Mohammad Shamsul Alam, distribution manager Shajedur Rahman and assistant manager Tushar Mahmud Mamun, and from Paperfly, head of Cargo & Courier Ahsan Shameem, assistant manager Ahsan Ahmed (Courier & Cargo), were, among others, present at the signing ceremony.
Islami Bank CEO bullish at branch opening
Investment by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has so far contributed to the creation of more than 4500 business establishments in the country’s industrial sector – including 1100 garment and 1000 textile factories, and 2500 agro-industrial firms.
The bank’s managing director and CEO Mohammed Monirul Moula made this claim while addressing the inauguration of the bank’s 382nd Branch at Sakhipur Upazila in Tangail district on Tuesday as the chief guest.
Apart from playing a leading role in the garment sector, the bank also has investments in the country's largest denim manufacturer and sugar refinery .
Md. Mahboob Alam, senior executive vice president of the bank presided over the program. J.Q.M. Habibullah, FCS, deputy managing director of the Bank, Julfikar Haider Kamal, Chairman, Sakhipur Upazila Parishad and Md. Abu Hanif Azad, freedom fighter and Mayor, Sakhipur Pourasabha, Bashir Ahamed, head of Mymensingh Zone of the bank, Mohammed Rafiqul Islam, Manager, Sakhipur Branch, among also spoke in the function.
Monirul Moula said in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Bangladesh government has announced 28 incentive packages worth Tk1.35 trillion, in which IBBL invested highest amount.
He said IBBL is the largest bank of the country and the only Bangladeshi bank amongst the top 1000 banks in the world for last 10 consecutive years.
IBBL is providing state-of-the-art services to its clients through 382 branches, 205 sub-branches, 2665 agent banking outlets and more than 2000 ATMs and CRM Booths.
He called upon all to take part in the work of self-development as well as building a prosperous Bangladesh by availing modern banking solutions offered by IBBL such as the CellFin App, Internet Banking and alternative banking services.