The three-days 9th International Fire Safety and Security Expo 2023 will be held from November 21-23 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. Keeping this event in mind, Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh – ESSAB organized Soft Launching Ceremony – Meet the Press at Gulshan Club in the capital. In his welcome speech, ESSAB President Zahir Uddin Babar highlighted the various activities of ESSAB in front of the journalists.
He said that in keeping with the increasing development and dynamics of the country, the members of ESSAB are continuously working to ensure the fire safety of the entire industrial and commercial and residential sectors of the country.
In the event, Secretary General M. Mahmudur Rashid highlighted various aspects of this international expo. He said that this year’s expo will display products in three categories. Which includes fire safety solutions, security solutions and building automation.
More than 100 world-renowned companies from 30 countries will participate in the fair. Also, 4 technical seminars on fire safety and related issues will be held in this international expo. The participants of the seminar can participate completely free of charge and certificates will be distributed among them. 800 participants can participate in each seminar. Also, ESSAB will also honor the fire fighters for their brave role in fire-fighting and rescue operations. Along with live fire demonstration and other events will be held.
It is also informed that the Expo will be open for visitors from 10 am to 7 pm for three days from 21 to 23 November 2023.
FBCCI president Mahbubul Alam said in the speech of the chief guest at the event, “The incident of Rana Plaza collapse has taught how to ensure compliance in the country’s industries and factories.” If you want to go to Qatar of developing countries, you have to ensure fire safety.
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He said, ‘Fire safety equipment will be made in the country in the future. That’s why everyone should come forward.’ He further said, ‘Bangladesh will be the ninth largest consumer market in the world in 2030. For this, it is necessary to take all kinds of steps to ensure the safety of the factory. No Accord-Alliance required. To strengthen their position in the competitive market, they have to come forward on their own initiative.
FBCCI Senior Vice President Amin Helaly, Vice President Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury Ronni, Fire Service and Civil Defense Director (Operation) Lt. Col. Tajul Islam and the newly elected Board of Directors of FBCCI were present on the occasion.
ESSAB Senior Vice President and FBCCI Director Niaz Ali Chishty invited everyone from the country and outside the country to participate in this international expo. He expressed hope that this year’s Expo will be successful like every year and will help to ensure the overall security of the industry, commerce and service sector of the entire country. He also highlighted the various problems and possibilities of the fire safety sector in Bangladesh. He laid emphasis on reduction of taxes, VAT and cost of imports in this sector and requested for ease of clearance of goods at ports. Through this expo, fire safety and security products will be more accessible to people and will encourage more investors.
The ESSAB Safety Excellence Award is getting special importance with this year’s expo. Those who have ensured proper fire-fighting and safety measures in three categories – commercial buildings, residential buildings and industrial plants – will be honored with awards. This audit will be done by experienced pair board.
On behalf of ESSAB, gratitude is expressed to all its members, participating institutions, all relevant ministries and departments.
From ESSAB board of directors; Md. Wahid Uddin – Vice President, SM Shahjahan – Vice President, Md. Motin Khan – Vice President, Mohammad Mahmud – Vice President, Zakir Uddin Ahmed – Joint Secretary General, Md. Kabir Hossain – Assistant Secretary, Md. Mahmood-E-Khoda – Treasurer, Md. Nazrul Islam – Publicity Secretary, Engr. Md. Monzur Alam-Director, Md. Mahabur Rahman-Director, Md. Noor Nabi – Director and Eng. Md. Al-Emran Hossain-Director were present.
Progressive Life Insurance Company Limited (PLICL) settled down insurance claims of approximately 40 (forty) crore taka in 2024 which has fortified clients’ confidence on the company. Progressive Life Insurance Company Limited entered 25th year on 6 January 2025. PLICL was founded on 6 January in the year 2000. Discussion programs, slicing a cake, offering dua and a colourful rally were organized to mark the company’s founding anniversary on Monday at PLICL corporate office in the capital.
The rally moved around different parts of Dhaka city and the officials of the company held a gathering in front of PLICL head office on Monday morning at 10:30 am.
PLICL Chairman (Acting) M Shoeb Chowdhury joined the 25th founding anniversary celebration virtually as the chief guest. M Shoeb Chowdhury said that the top management of Progressive Life Insurance Company Limited has been able to uphold the dream cherished by expatriate Bangladeshis whose contribution led to the establishment of the company. Shoeb Chowdhury laid emphasis on working with unity and solidarity for the company’s further advancement and to generate many more success stories.
PLICL Executive Committee Chairman Mezanur Rahman , Chairman of Audit Committee Dr. Md. Jamil Sharif, PhD, FCMA and former entrepreneur Prodeep Sen also attended the program. The event was presided over by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Md. Saidul Amin. The 25th founding anniversary of Progressive Life Insurance Company Limited was celebrated in 32 districts and divisional offices across Bangladesh. Senior officials of the insurance company expressed hope and determination to transform PLICL into a top notch institution in days to come. The speakers at the program stated that Progressive Life Insurance Company Limited appointed 1200 development officers in 2024 and training courses have been initiated to upgrade their skills.
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PLICL Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Mohammad Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy, Senior DMD Shahjahan Azadi, Company Secretary Abdullah Al Mansur and Senior DMD Jaseem Uddin Prodhan addressed the program among other dignitaries.
Bank deposits grew in the third quarter of 2024 as many people were encouraged by rising interest rates to park their money at commercial lenders.
In the July-September period of the previous calendar year, bank deposits rose 7 percent year-on-year to Tk 18.25 lakh crore, with bank branches in rural areas registering higher deposit growth compared to their urban counterparts.
The significant hike in interest rates was a key driver behind the growth in bank deposits, said Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and chief executive of Mutual Trust Bank PLC.
Besides, banks have carried out a lot of campaigns to attract depositors, he added while informing that they expect the uptrend of deposits to continue.
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The weighted average interest rates on deposits rose to 5.88 percent in the July-September quarter last year from 4.55 percent during the same period of the previous year, according to data of the Bangladesh Bank.
But when comparing the April-June quarter, bank deposits declined by 0.73 percent year-on-year due to widespread unrest centring a mass movement that ousted the Awami League government on August 5.
Overall bank deposits stood at Tk 18.38 lakh crore by the end of last June.
Private commercial banks, including Islamic banks, constitute 68 percent of the total deposits at present.
However, the central bank data shows their deposits shrank 0.33 percent to Tk 12.58 lakh crore by the end of last September from Tk 12.62 lakh crore three months prior.
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The crisis ridden Islamic banks recorded the steepest decline in deposits during the July-September period. Meanwhile, state banks closely followed even though both public and private banks saw deposit growth for about one year since the end of September 2023
On the other hand, loans and advances maintained an uptick for four quarters ending with the July-September period of 2024.
Loans and advances increased by 10 percent year-on-year to Tk 16.19 lakh crore by the end of September last year.
Between June and September of 2024, loans and advances to bank borrowers grew by 1.43 percent mainly in urban areas.
সফলতার ২৫ বছরে পা রাখলো প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ ইনসিওরেন্স কোম্পানী লিঃ।গতকাল ৬ জানুয়ারি ২০২৫ সালে ২৫তম প্রতিষ্ঠা বার্ষিকী উপলক্ষে আয়োজিত অনুষ্ঠানে এই তথ্য জানান কোম্পানিটির মুখ্য নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা মোহাম্মদ সাইদুল আমিন। ৬ জানুয়ারী ২০০০ সালে এই কোম্পানিটির যাত্রা শুরু হয়। ঢাকায় প্রতিষ্ঠানের প্রধান কার্যালয়ে বর্ণাঢ্য শোভাযাত্রা,আলোচনা,কেক কাটা,দোয়া অনুষ্ঠান সহ বিভিন্ন আয়োজন করা হয়েছে।
২৫তম প্রতিষ্ঠা বার্ষিকী উপলক্ষে ঢাকার স্কাউট ভবন কার্যালয় থেকে সকাল ১০.৩০ টায় একটি শোভাযাত্রার আয়োজন করা হয়। পল্টন এর বিভিন্ন স্থান প্রদক্ষিণ শেষে প্রধান কার্যালয়ে সমবেত হন প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ ইনসিওরেন্স এর কর্মকর্তা কর্মচারীরা। প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ ইনসিওরেন্স কোম্পানী লিঃ এর মুখ্য নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা মোহাম্মদ সাইদুল আমিন সেখানে সংক্ষিপ্ত বক্তব্য প্রদান করেন।
দুপুরে আলোচনা সভায় প্রধান অথিতি হিসেবে ভার্চুয়ালি যোগ দেন ভারপ্রাপ্ত চেয়ারম্যান এম শোয়েব চৌধুরী।তিনি বলেন, ২৫ বছর আগে যে লালিত স্বপ্ন নিয়ে প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশীরা এই প্রতিষ্ঠান তৈরি করেছে আমরা তা সমুন্নত রেখে এগিয়ে নিয়ে যাবো।তিনি সবাইকে একতাবদ্ধ হয়ে কাজ করার উপর গুরুত্ত আরোপ করেন।বিশেষ অতিথি হিসেবে উপস্থিত ছিলেন নির্বাহী কমিটির চেয়ারম্যান মোহাম্মদ মিজানুর রহমান, অডিট কমিটির চেয়ারম্যান ড. জামিল শরিফ ও সাবেক উদ্যোক্তা পরিচালক প্রদিপ সেন।
সভাপতির বক্তব্য মুখ্য নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা মোহাম্মদ সাইদুল আমিন বলেন,দেশব্যাপী প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ এর ৩২ টি জেলা/বিভাগীয় অফিসে একযোগে আমাদের ২৫তম প্রতিষ্ঠা বার্ষিকী পালিত হচ্ছে যা আমাদের জন্য গর্বের বিষয়। ২০২৫ সাল প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ ইনসিওরেন্স ২৫তম বছরে আমাদের ঘুরে দাঁড়ানোর বছর। দেশের শীর্ষ বীমা কোম্পানিতে পরিণত করারা আশাবাদ ব্যক্ত করেন।তিনি জানান,২০২৪ সালে আমরা প্রায় ৪০ কোটি টাকা বীমা দাবি পুরন করে গ্রাহকদের আস্থা অর্জন করতে সক্ষম হয়েছি। সারা দেশে ১২০০ উন্নয়ন কর্মিকে নিয়োগ দিয়েছি এবং প্রশিক্ষণ কার্যক্রম চালু করেছি।বীমা খাতে দক্ষ কর্মী তৈরিতে প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ অগ্রণী ভূমিকা পালন করে চলেছে।
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প্রগ্রেসিভ লাইফ ইনসিওরেন্স কোম্পানী লিঃ এর উপ-ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক মোহাম্মদ হোসেন শহীদ সোহরাওয়ারদী , সিনিয়ৱ ডিএমডি শাহজাহান আজাদী,কোম্পানি সচিব আব্দুল্লাহ আল মনসুর,সিনিয়ৱ ডিএমডি জসীম উদ্দিন প্রধান সহ প্রমুখ বক্তব্য রাখেন।