Business

Migration Singapore narrows door for foreign workers Construction workers from Bangladesh, hotel staff from the Philippines, waitresses from China, shipyard welders from Myanmar, technology professionals from India — Singapore has them all. For years the rich but worker-starved city-state, built by mainly Chinese immigrants, had

HSBC Bangladesh received ‘AAA’ rating for the third consecutive year from Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Ltd (CRAB). ‘AAA’ is the highest rating awarded by CRAB which is given to banks with extremely strong capacity to meet their financial commitments and

The government and the World Bank (WB) have identified Kaliakoir of Gazipur as the first site for an economic zone. The proposed economic zone would be turned into a hi-tech industrial park and other potential areas including existing export processing zones (EPZs) could be

A two-week ‘Bashundhara Abasan Mela 2010’ began on level-1 and 2 at Bashundhara City in Dhaka on Monday. Managing director of Bashundhara Group Sayem Sobhan inaugurated the fair as chief guest, said a news release. Group’s additional managing director Safwan Sobhan, deputy managing director

Panasonic has launched 60 per cent energy saving air conditioner in the recently held Panasonic Air Conditioner Dealer Convention 2010 in a leading hotel in Dhaka. In the programme, Panasonic introduced three ranges of Panasonic Air Conditioners – Envio i2, Envio P2 and Standard models along with

Masud Rahman, managing director of Crane Ltd, has been re-elected as president of Canada-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CanCham) for the 2010-11 term, a CanCham statement said yesterday. KM Khaled, managing director GETCO Ltd, has been elected as vice-president, Wali Sattar,

Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation appointed Syed Rezwanul Kabir as its managing director, says a statement released yesterday. Kabir, a science graduate and an MBA from Pennsylvania, USA, held different high-profile positions both at home and abroad, which brings 20 years of

Swapan Kumar Das has been promoted to deputy managing director of National Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank, the bank said in a statement. Prior to the appointment, he was the senior executive vice president and Chittagong area incharge of

Dhaka stocks suffered a big jolt yesterday with the highest number of companies losing their share prices in the history of Bangladesh stockmarket, as investor confidence dipped to a new low. The prices of 89 percent securities declined. Of the 240 traded companies, 214 took a nosedive, while only 24 securities advanced. However, two

Grameenphone Ltd. announced a new range of price plans that is expected to bring greater simplicity in the pre-paid category. The company has also revealed a new price plan for its djuice product as well. Details of the new price plan were announced at a press conference yesterday at a

A three-day international conference on microfinance begins today at Sonargaon Hotel in the city with an objective of further developing and replicating across the world the small lending to the poor as an effective financial instrument. Microfinance Regulatory Authority has organised the conference with the financial support of

The newly harvested strawberry, a high-valued delicious fruit, has now appeared in the local markets ushering in a new hope for the farmers and their economic uplift in northern region. Though its commercial cultivation began a few years back, the fruit was being sent to the capital city Dhaka for marketing and the same was

The Lebanese government would recruit a huge number of workers from Bangladesh for cleaning and house keeping sector, Labour and Employment Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said here yesterday. Hossain, who is also in charge of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, told reporters at the VIP lounge of

Shinepukur Ceramics Ltd has got the national export trophy (gold) for the highest export of ceramic items for the year 2005-2006. Shinepukur Ceramics Ltd and Beximco Group chairman ASF Rahman received the award from the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, at a ceremony held at the

Banglalion Communications Ltd yesterday formally launched its WiMAX internet service in the port city with a commitment to help improve daily life and speed up industrial activities. Banglalion Chairman Abdul Mannan made the announcement at a press conference at Chittagong

TeleTalk has taken an ambitious plan for introducing 3G (third generation) mobile phone technology in Bangladesh. The state-run cell phone service provider is lagging behind the private operators because of funding shortages, but expecting strong foothold on the market with the

A three day International Tourism Fair – Dhaka Travel Mart 2010 began at the Winter Garden of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on Thursday. GM Quader, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism addressed the inaugural session at the Marble Room and formally inaugurated the exhibition at the Winter Garden of

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader yesterday said the government will observe 2001 as the tourism year to project the country’s tourism industry in the international arena and attract foreign tourists. He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of tourism fair ‘Dhaka Travel Mart-2010’ at

Emirates, the airline of choice of the people of Bangladesh, has unveiled atractive business class fares to 12 destinations and economy class fares to 26 destinations. The airline announced the special fares for its customers in connection with the three-day Dhaka Travel Mart-2010, began at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on

The 44th branch of Bank Asia started operation at Kamal Bazar, Chittagong from yesterday.  A. Rouf Chowdhury, Director of the Bank formally inaugurated the new branch. Jahir Uddin, Managing Director of Mostafa Group, Erfanuddin Ahmed, president and managing director,  SM Khorshed Alam, Deputy