SMILES, the frequent flyer programme of NovoAir, has entered its eighth year.
 
Marking the occasion, NovoAir announced 10 percent discount on the ticket fare.
 
In this offer, SMILES members can purchase tickets through NOVOAIR sales counter, website and mobile app by using promo code “SMILES7ANN” till 31st July.

Read Also:NOVOAIR offers free tickets for health professionals

In addition, any valuable passenger can enjoy the offer by becoming a SMILES member from NOVOAIR sales counter or website, by filling up the form.
 
NOVOAIR currently operates daily 3 flights from Dhaka to Chattogram, 3 flights to Jashore, 4 flights to Saidpur and 1 flight to Sylhet in compliance with the health guidelines issued by the CAAB/ICAO/IATA and WHO.
 
NOVOAIR is the first airline of Bangladesh to launch a Frequent Flyer program to provide special services to valuable passengers.

Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, peoole can make payment through bKash for purchasing medicine and other essentials at around 7,000 pharmacies across the country.

In addition, they will get 5 percent instant cashback on bKash payment during July and August. Starting on July 1, the offer will be valid till August 31.

In a press release, bKash said currently bKash payment is available at around 7,000 pharmacies in all eight divisions across the country.

More pharmacies are being brought under this service frequently, it added.

Besides, customers can get cashback by paying with bKash app or dialing USSD code *247#.

During the whole campaign period, customers can get Tk 200 maximum. They can get cashback up to Tk 25 daily and avail the offer five times in a month. The maximum cashback amount per month will be Tk 100.

Customers can easily make payment by scanning QR code with bKash app. The merchant number can also be saved for future payment in fewer steps.

People can easily find out full list and addresses of pharmacies with bKash payment facility along with the cashback offer details on this website - https://www.bkash.com/offers_pharmacy.

Prime Bank and Bangladesh Association of Call Center and Outsourcing (BACCO) on Wednesday joined hands to facilitate financing for entrepreneurs in the field of call centere and outsourcing.

Managing Director and CEO of Prime Bank Rahel Ahmed and President of BACCO Wahidur Rahman Sharif formally launched the alliance through a virtual press meet where Minister for Planning M A Mannan MP was present as the chief guest. 

The partnership titled “Prime Bank-BACCO Alliance for MSME Financing Solutions” will enable easy access to finance to BPO/Outsourcing companies as they strive for market expansion locally and globally. 

It will be a big boost for the country’s BPO/Outsourcing sector as eligible BACCO members can now avail collateral free loan up to Tk 50 lakh and other tailor-made financing solutions. The entrepreneurs can make more contribution to the country’s economy. 

Under the arrangement, the BPO/Outsourcing firms will get working capital (CC, OD and Demand Loan), Term Loans for Fixed Asset Purchase and Capital expenditures, International Trade solution- LC, LATR, IDBP etc., Bank Guarantee, Work Order etc. They can also avail a wide range of deposit products and free Internet Banking – ALTITUDE - for conducting broad range of e-transaction. 

They will need two-year business experience and introduction letter from BACCO. The companies can apply for loan from the comfort of their office or home as Prime Bank has assigned dedicated Relationship Manager for exclusive service for valued BACCO members.

Commenting on the alliance, Managing Director and CEO, Prime Bank Rahel Ahmed, said: “Prime Bank is fully aligned with the government’s vision of making a Digital Bangladesh as the country sets sight to become a middle income country. BPO/Outsourcing sector holds huge potential as the developed countries resort to outsourcing the call center and other BPO services. We hope with the financing solution, the companies will be able to expand their services and grab more market share. Prime Bank is committed to be a part of the growth journey of this promising sector.”

President of BACCO Wahidur Rahman Sharif said: “BACCO has always been working to upturn the opportunities for member organizations and will continue to work for the development of the BPO industry by taking certain initiatives in the future. We will take all possible steps to ensure that the BACCO members are able to fully avail the financial incentives announced by the Government and also hope that other banks will also come forward to assist the organizations of this promising BPO industry.”

Senior Vice President of BACCO Md Abul Khair, BACCO Director Rashed Noman, Head of MSME Banking of Prime Bank Syed M Omar Tayub, Head of Brand and Communications Nazmul Karim Chowdhury were also present.

Also read: Zaeem Ahmed new executive committee chairman of Prime Bank

Bangladesh Bank will allow foreign investors to deposit their dividend with the foreign currency (FC) accounts maintained with banks in the country with certain conditions.

A Bangladesh Circular, issued on Tuesday by Foreign Exchange Policy Department, said that to bring smooth operations relating to foreign investment in Bangladesh, it has been decided that dividend payable to foreign shareholders may be credited to their FC accounts maintained in Bangladesh, subject to observance of some instructions.

These include that the authorised dealers (AD) designated banks shall satisfy themselves that the fund in equivalent foreign currency to be credited in FC accounts on account of dividend has arrived in accordance with the Guidelines for Foreign Exchange Transactions (GFET) and its reporting has been made.

“While crediting FC accounts, the transactions shall be treated as outward remittances and accordingly TM Form procedures need to be followed," said the BB circular.

Read Also: Focus on boosting Bangladesh-US trade, investment ties: Speakers

Encasement of balances held in FC accounts shall be treated as inward remittances for bonafide local disbursements, subject to Form-C procedures, said the circular.

BB said that purchase of shares out of fund held in FC accounts shall be treated as foreign investment, subject to compliance with the instructions of the GFET.

Declared dividend may be used, with treatment as inward remittances in accordance

with GFET, for reinvestment in Bangladesh through purchase of shares in existing companies and/or other companies subject to observance of following certain instructions.

The circular said that the investor companies shall, within 14 days on issuance of shares in accordance with regulatory norms, arrange to report with attachment of relevant documents through their designated ADs to Foreign Exchange Investment Department and Statistics Department of Bangladesh Bank.

Ridesharing company Uber on Tuesday started 24/7 rentals service ‘Uber Rentals’ allowing riders to book a car and its driver for several hours at a stretch and make multiple stops on a journey.

The new rental service will start with a price of Tk 899 for 2hours/20km, said a press release.

During riding the Uber Rentals health safety guidelines and hygiene standards will be maintained, it said.

Read Also: Uber launches package delivery service ‘Uber Connect’ in Dhaka

Riders can request a ride within minutes for a personal experience with greater flexibility and convenience after over two months.

The service will be available across UberX, which resumed services in Dhaka last week, at an affordable price point of Tk 899 for a 24hour/20 km package.

Riders will have the option of selecting from multiple hourly packages that can be booked up to a maximum of 10-hours.

The service allows riders to do more by the hour, providing great value in several situations, including when riders need to run several errands or want to attend a business appointment and get back without having to book multiple trips.

Ratul Ghosh, Head of Bangladesh and East India, Uber, said, “As Dhaka reopens, many of our riders will have new use cases and different needs from Uber, one of which will be keeping their Uber with them for a longer duration in the day.”

Users will be allowed to book their Uber for multiple hours with flexible and affordable packages and also gives them the option to make multiple stops on their journey, he added.

Uber has launched a comprehensive set of safety measures and have distributed safety kits consisting of masks, hand sanitisers, bar soaps, tissue paper to driver partners, along with placing rider safety placards in cars to create rider awareness in the last few weeks.

Using Uber Rentals is as easy as booking any other Uber trip. Riders only need to update their Uber app to the latest version if they are not able to see ‘Uber Rentals.’