Bangladesh Refrigerator Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BRMEA) requested the government to make the import policy friendly for the fastest growing local electronics and hi-tech products manufacturing industry.

The local electronics manufacturers’ platform also called upon the government to issue SROs (Statutory Regulatory Order) to resolve the prevailing barriers to boost up the local industries, said a press release.

The association also urged to give highest priority to the local industries’ made products in the government’s procurements.

In this regard, the BRMEA has recently submitted a letter to the Prime Minister (PM) appealing for taking necessary initiatives in this regard.

Copies of the letter have also been sent to the PM’s Economic Adviser; Cabinet Secretary; PM’s Chief Secretary; ERD, Housing and Public Works Ministry, Commerce Ministry, Industries Ministry and the Central Procurement Technical Unit’s Acting Secretaries  and Director Generals.

The letter, signed by the BRMEA president, said that Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in manufacturing refrigerator, freezer, television, air conditioner, compressor, elevator or lift, mobile phone, laptop, computer, switch-socket, LED light, fan, home and kitchen appliances etc. After meeting the local market’s demand, these locally finished world class and reasonable prices’ products are being exported to a good number of countries in the world.

Now, imports of such products from abroad at high prices are meaningless, waste of the foreign currencies and which also hinders the flourishment of the local electronics manufacturing industry. 

Mentionable, many countries, including the neighbouring country India, has formulated domestic industrial protective import policy. Recently, India banned the imports of television, air conditioner with refrigerant and some other electronics appliances for the great interest of its local industries.

Recently, Bangladesh started the exports of locally finished air conditioner and television to India as new export items.

Like India, Bangladesh government should also ban the imports of electronics and hi-tech products for the greater interest of the local manufacturing sector in this sector, said BRMEA General Secretary Jahidul Islam.

Bangladesh is making world class electronics are now being exported to the world’s many countries, including Europe, saying it he noted that but, the same quality products of the local industries are being considered as B-grade/C-grade and neglected in the procurement of the government offices.

He also demanded the alteration of the existing import policy and also urged for the formulation of local industrial protective new policy.

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PRAN-RFL Group, one of the business conglomerates of Bangladesh, has recently provided food and protective equipment among six thousand families in Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Cumilla and Noakhali. 

The food items include rice, lentil, oil, sugar, semolina, bath and laundry soap. Besides, surgical musk has been given as a protective equipment, said a press release.

Multinational bank HSBC was also joined with PRAN-RFL Group for the initiative while Red Crescent Society helped to distribute the products among the people. 

Kamruzzaman Kamal, Marketing Director at PRAN-RFL Group, said “Still now, many people are suffering especially poor people as they are workless. We are trying to help them as part of our social responsibility under the platform ‘Pashe Asi Bangladesh’ and hope it will continue.”

PRAN-RFL Group will continue providing its support to poor and helpless people for any disasters under the platform ‘Pashe Asi Bangladesh’, he said.

Under the campaign, the group so far provided food support among 70,000 helpless and poor families.

Also read: PRAN-RFL Group to generate 5,000 jobs in Rajshahi

Banglalink, one of the leading digital communications service providers in the country, has signed an agreement with Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of Bangladesh Ltd recently.

Under the agreement, officials of LIC will use Banglalink’s corporate connection and other facilities including bulk SMS, m-Connex, field force locator and data services, said a press release.

Rubaiyat A Tanzeen, Enterprise Business Director, Banglalink and Arup Kumar Das, Managing Director & CEO, LIC of Bangladesh Ltd. signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Abdullah Faiz, B2B Product and Marketing Director, Banglalink, Ghazi Rafi Ahmed Shams, Head of Acquisition, Enterprise Business, Banglalink, Md. Murad Ul Hasan, Corporate Group Manager, Banglalink, Md. Shaheduzzaman, Corporate Account Manager, Enterprise Business, Banglalink, Abhijit Bhattacharyya, Chief Marketing Officer, LIC of Bangladesh Ltd. and Ajoy Kumar Byahut, Chief Financial Officer, LIC of Bangladesh Ltd. were also present at the signing ceremony.

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Chattogram South Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited organised a webinar titled ‘Compliance of Shari`ah in Banking Sector’ recently.

Professor Dr Md Salim Uddin, FCA, FCMA, Chairman, Executive Committee of the bank addressed the programme as the chief guest where Md Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director was the special guest.

Mufti Mohammad Mubibbullahil Baqee, member of IBBL Shari`ah Supervisory Committee addressed the webinar as the chief discussant while Mohammad Harunar Rashid, member of the committee was special discussant.

Mohammad Yakub Ali, Head of Chattogram South Zone presided over the programme where Md Shamsul Huda and Md Shamsuddoha, Executive Vice Presidents were present.

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In this month of victory, bKash is offering its customers a Tk 16 instant cashback on recharging Tk 11 to any mobile number through bKash app.

A customer can avail the cashback only once from bKash app during this limited time offer which may end anytime, a press release from bKash said.

To avail the offer, customers have to click on the mobile recharge option from the main menu of bKash app and select the mobile number operator. In the next step, they should type Tk 11 and enter bKash PIN to get the cashback instantly. Customers can visit https://www.bkash.com/16tk_Cashback to know more about the offer.

The offer will be applicable to all numbers of Airtel, Banglalink, Grameenphone, Robi and Teletalk.

Mobile Recharge service of bKash has gained popularity among customers as it allowes recharging any amount of money from any corner of the country any time. Currently, 25 percent of the total mobile recharge in the country is done through bKash.

Besides cashing in from 240,000 agents across the country, it is also easy to Add Money to bKash account from 22 banks' internet banking or from any Visa and MasterCard. As a result, customers can easily enjoy uninterrupted mobile services at home without having to go anywhere.