Planning Minister MA Mannan on Tuesday said the government would extend all forms of logistical support to make the private sector vibrant.

“We need to step ahead to ensure more private sector engagement in public-private partnership for coordinated development in the country,” he said while Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan paid a courtesy call on him.

MA Mannan also stressed the importance of enabling business environment in Bangladesh and appreciated the formation of the Logistics and Infrastructure Working Committee of BUILD. The organisation already has a well-functioning public-private dialogue (PPD) model.

He urged BUILD to contribute independently for policy making process of the government.

BUILD Chairperson Khan said the partnership is vital for Public Policy Support for the private sector.

“The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to the entire global economy, which continues to exert downward economic pressures on the countries across the world. With timely action, the government not only delivered economic relief to many but also injected confidence into businesses and the economy,” he said.

Also Read: COVID-19: 'Resurgent Bangladesh' launched for private

Further initiatives to address employment and revive domestic demand would be critical to set the economy back on a robust growth pathway. Otherwise the target of the Perspective Plan for manufacturing growth may be difficult to achieve, he added.

Khan urged the government to intensify South-South cooperation, especially through regional agreements and create new avenues for markets for global trade expansion.

He requested the government to reduce the supply divide and accelerate development of regional value chains as key policy stepping-stones for a better post-COVID recovery process.

Also Read: US keen to help Bangladesh diversify its private sector

Declaring 2021-2031 as the infrastructure decade for accelerated development of Bangladesh, he suggested devising a National Logistic Infrastructure Master Plan (NLIMP) which should be adopted to improve the national logistics and infrastructure system.

“The special economic zones (SEZ) must be utilised in a strategic manner to ensure broad and sustainable results for the national economy. As economic frontiers, the SEZs should link up with local businesses in the vicinity and act as growth centres. The broad-based growth enabled by SEZs would facilitate revenue collection, job creation and the industrialisation of Bangladesh,” he added.

Also Read: Proposed budget hardly prioritises pvt sector: Economists

CEO of BUILD Ferdaus Ara Begum informed about one of the on-going activities of their organisation and International Trade Centre (ITC)-She Trade Program in collaboration with Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) for designing a public procurement road map more gender responsive.

A meeting of the Sharia Supervisory Committee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) was held at virtual Platform on Sunday.

Also read:  IBBL holds views-exchange meeting with clients in Cox’s Bazar

Professor Dr Mohammad Gias Uddin Talukder, Chairman of the Committee presided over the meeting. 

Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director and CEO of the bank, Professor Dr Mohammad Abdus Samad, Member Secretary also attended the meeting among others.

Chattogram South Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited organised views-exchange meeting with clients at a Convention Hall of Chakaria, Cox's Bazar on Friday.

At the meeting, Mohammed Monirul Moula, newly-appointed Managing Director and CEO of the bank was given floral reception by Zafar Alam, Member of Parliament, Cox's Bazar-1 constituency.

Aslo read: IBBL holds workshop in city

Former MP HM Salahuddin Mahmud, Chairman of Cox's Bazar Jila Parishad, former and current mayors of Chakaria municipality and Chairmen of Union Parishad were present there.

Md Mosharraf Hossain, Deputy Managing Director, Mohammed Shabbir and GM Mohd Gias Uddin Quader, senior executive vice presidents and Miftah Uddin, Executive Vice President and Head of Khatunganj Corporate Branch of the Bank addressed the meeting.

Also read: IBBL inaugurates seven new branches

Mohammad Yakub Ali, Head of Chattogram South Zone, presided over the function where head of three branches and clients were present.

US-Bangla, the largest private airline in Bangladesh, is going to start flights from February 1, 2021 to Dubai. US-Bangla will operate seven flights in a week from Dhaka to Dubai.

Initially seven flights will be operated for Dubai from Dhaka. Every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday the flight will start for Dubai from Dhaka at 06.30pm and will reach there at 10.00pm. The flight will start for Dhaka from Dubai at 11:30pm on every scheduled day and will reach Dhaka at 06.00am on next day. Every Tuesday the flight will start for Dubai from Dhaka at 05.30pm and will reach there at 09.00pm. The flight will start for Dhaka from Dubai at 10:30pm on every scheduled day and will reach Dhaka at 05.00am on next day. Every Wednesday the flight will start for Dubai from Dhaka at 03.55pm and will reach there at 07.25pm. The flight will start for Dhaka from Dubai at 08:55pm on every scheduled day and will reach Dhaka at 03.25am on next day. Every Saturday the flight will start for Dubai from Dhaka at 05.00pm and will reach there at 08.30pm. The flight will start for Dhaka from Dubai at 09:55pm on every scheduled day and will reach Dhaka at 04.25am on next day.  All mentioned timings are local.

Also read: US-Bangla adds two new ATR 72-600s to its fleet

For Economy Class the minimum one-way fare BDT 54,999 and return fare BDT 73,000 has been fixed in Dhaka-Dubai route. Also the minimum one-way fare AED 1,670 and return fare AED 2,753 has been fixed in Dubai-Dhaka route. For Business Class the one-way fare BDT 79,200 and return fare BDT 153,526 has been fixed in Dhaka-Dubai route. Also one-way fare AED 2,620 and return fare AED 4,453 has been fixed in Dubai-Dhaka route. The fares include all taxes and surcharges.

Also read: US-Bangla starts operating flights to Chennai, Kolkata

US-Bangla Airlines plans to operate flights to various destinations in the Middle East to serve new destinations, especially to expatriate Bangladeshis. It has been decided to operate flights to Abu Dhabi in addition to Dubai soon. Apart from tourists, there are more than one million expatriate Bangladeshis in different cities of UAE including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

US-Bangla Airlines currently operates flights to Muscat, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kolkata, Chennai and Guangzhou. US-Bangla also plans to operate flights to Male and Colombo, shortly.

Also read: US-Bangla resuming Dhaka-Singapore flight Oct 3

Besides, US-Bangla operates flights to all domestic routes of Bangladesh especially from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Sylhet, Saidpur, Jashore, Rajshahi and Barishal.

US-Bangla Airlines has a total of thirteen aircrafts in its fleet, including 4 Boeing 737-800, 6 brand new ATR 72-600. There are plans to add four more new aircraft to the fleet soon.

Khulna zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) held view exchange meeting with its clients at Tiger Garden International Hotel in Khulna on 14 January.

Also read:IBBL inaugurates premier pavilion at DITF

Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director and CEO of the Bank addressed the meeting as the chief guest while Md Mahbub ul Alam, former Managing Director and CEO of the Bank was present as the guest of honor.

Aslo read:IBBL holds workshop in city

Muhammad Qaisar Ali & Md Omar Faruk Khan, Additional Managing Directors and Md Anowar Hossain, Managing Director of Dubai Bangladesh Cement Mills Ltd addressed the meeting as the special guests.

Also read:IBBL inaugurates seven new branches 

Abu Reza Md Yeahia, JQM Habibullah, FCS and Md Mosharraf Hossain, Deputy Managing Directors, Md Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan and Miftah Uddin, Executive Vice Presidents of the Bank were also present there among others.

Also read: IBBL Dhaka zone holds online conference

Md Abdus Salam, Head of Khulna zone presided over the programme.

Also read:IBBL inaugurates agent banking outlet at Dudhghata Bazar