BlackBerry QNX Research on October 8 unveiled new research highlighting the mounting pressure on software engineers and developers to balance rapid innovation with safety and security. The comprehensive survey of 1,000 embedded software developers and engineers from around the world revealed the growing tension between meeting tight project deadlines and maintaining functional safety, with 75% of respondents acknowledging that urgency often forces them to compromise on key safety requirements. Widespread Frustration Leads 74% of Developers to Consider Switching Operating Systems While developers cite security (54%), cost control (52%) and safety certifications (48%) as their ‘top' considerations when selecting an operating system, the survey also highlights significant downstream challenges in each of these areas that have made the vast majority (74%) of respondents open to changing their existing OS. Indeed, of those required to meet international safety standards, 61% say it is extremely or very challenging to meet these specific standards with their current OS. Security concerns (36%) and lackluster performance issues (28%) are the two main reasons respondents are considering changing their current OS. Open-Source Platforms Preferred Yet Fall Short on Safety Standards Open-Source operating systems are the preferred foundational platform for almost half (44%) of developers, with an additional 25% indicating no preference for either Open-Source or proprietary offerings. Open-Source platforms are often adopted within development environments due to widespread familiarity with the technology and their open availability, but critically, they do not carry the same safety certifications as many proprietary options which go through rigorous verification and testing to achieve; validating and verifying each stage of the development process to ensure stringent international safety requirements are met. "As we enter the era of 'Software-Defined Everything,' where devices and infrastructure increasingly rely on software for operations, new features, and innovation, the importance of functional safety (FuSa) and security are paramount," said John Wall, SVP and Head of BlackBerry QNX. "While 90% of organizations surveyed recognize this as a priority, developers are under growing pressure to meet deadlines and budgets, which is why pre-certified software is so important to enabling organizations to not only meet their goals but do so without compromise." Safety Certification Gaps Cause Costly Delays and Compliance Issues Worryingly, the survey also revealed that nearly a third (31%) of all respondents admitted that their OS lacked the necessary safety certifications or only had ‘some' of them covered. This gap has no doubt contributed to delays for two-thirds of organizations as they grapple with the complexity, time, and cost-averaging $591,000 and 154 hours of company resources-needed to meet evolving safety standards. Security Vulnerabilities and Breaches Lead to Project Delays Security also remains a pain point for developers, particularly for Open-Source operating systems, which are more likely to experience a breach (46% vs. 40% for proprietary systems). Of those who have encountered a security breach or vulnerability in their OS, 72% reported delays in project timelines directly due to security vulnerabilities, further exacerbating the challenges of maintaining both innovation and robust, secure systems. "To thrive in a software-driven world, developers need an OS that prioritizes safety and security," added Wall. "Pre-certified, secure-by-design solutions allow teams to focus on innovation rather than troubleshooting. Choosing the right OS can significantly transform your business by minimizing headaches and enhancing efficiency." Other key findings include: •        While 73% of organizations prioritize operating system security, the frequency of applying security patches varies, with a notable average of 5 weeks between updates. •        Operating system issues can have a significant impact on project timelines, with 34% of organizations reporting that they have missed deadlines due to OS-related problems, with the average delay globally being one month. For more information on how BlackBerry QNX's portfolio of embedded software solutions can help accelerate safety-certification, ensure reliability and reduce development time, visit BlackBerry QNX. Methodology: Research was conducted in from July to September by Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry QNX, surveying 1,000 embedded software developers and engineers across North America (USA and Canada), Europe (UK, France, and Germany), and APAC (Japan, South Korea).  

Electronics brand Walton has launched “Digital Campaign Season-21” across the with “Double Million” offer. In Season-21, customers may get Tk 20 lakh on the purchase of Walton brand fridge, television, washing machine or BLDC fan from any Walton Plaza, distributor outlet or online sales platform 'E-plaza' across the country. In addition, crores of taka sure cash back are also available for customers, according to a press release on Wednesday. Customers will enjoy these benefits of Season-21 from October 10 to December 31 this year. The benefits were disclosed at the inaugural ceremony of 'Walton Digital Campaign Season-21' held at Walton Corporate Office in the capital on Wednesday, it said, Actress Bidya Sinha Saha Mim joined as brand ambassador of “Walton Digital Campaign Season-21”. Walton Plaza’s Managing Director Mohammad Rayhan, Walton Hi-Tech's Additional Managing Director Eva Rezwana Nilu, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Galib Bin Mohammad, Walton Distributor Network’s Head of Saled Md. Firoj Alam, among others were present at the time. Walton’s Senior Executive Director Amin Khan moderated the function. Addressing the function, actress Bidya Sinha Saha Mim said, "Walton is not just a brand; a pride of Bangladesh. Walton products are now at every home of the country. Beyond the country's boundaries, Walton products are being exported to many countries around the world. We feel proud that Walton has now been turned into a global electronics brand. I am delighted to be appointed as the brand ambassador of this great campaign." Walton CMO Galib Bin Mohammad said, "As of, Walton has conducted total of 20 seasons of its digital campaign. Every season witnessed huge response from the buyers. I hope that Season-21 will be very successful and also get huge customers' response." Through digital registration system, necessary information like buyer’s name, mobile number and product model number is being stored on Walton’s server. As a result, customers can get quick service from any Walton service center in the country even if they lost the warranty card. Besides the representatives of the service center can also know the customers’ feedback, added the release.

The British Council marked the 65-year legacy of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) with a special event at its auditorium on Fuller Road in Dhaka on Saturday (October 5).  The celebration included panel discussions focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation, along with a captivating theatre performance directed by Dr. Sudip Chakroborty, the first Commonwealth scholar from Bangladesh to study theatre. Since its inception, the CSC has played a pivotal role in fostering academic and leadership potential among individuals from Commonwealth nations. This milestone not only commemorates decades of talent development but also underscores CSC’s dedication to promoting international collaboration and intellectual growth. The audience was also treated to a powerful presentation of Selim Al Deen's SwarnaBoal, directed by Dr. Chakroborty. In his closing remarks, Stephen Forbes, Country Director of the British Council in Bangladesh, highlighted the impact of CSC scholars, stating, “Over the past six decades, more than 1,800 Commonwealth scholars have completed their studies in the UK and gone on to make significant contributions to Bangladesh and the welfare of people worldwide.” The panel discussion, featuring five distinguished Commonwealth alumni, addressed the challenges of entrepreneurship while inspiring the younger generation to take risks. Participants included M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, PhD, from the University of Dhaka, who shared insights on access to finance and women’s entrepreneurship. Other panelists included Kohinoor Yeasmin, CEO of TARANGO, and Rashed Suhrawardy, co-founder of Dementia Care Foundation Bangladesh, who shared their entrepreneurial journeys. The discussion was moderated by Tanjilut Tasnuba, Senior Programme Officer at the International Labour Organization in Bangladesh. The event was organized in collaboration with the Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows (BACSAF) to honor the longstanding legacy of the CSC.    

Brand: MitsubishiModel: Pajero SportOrigin: Manufactured in JapanYear: 2011 (Registered in 2011, Serial: 13)Transmission: AutomaticBody Type: SUV, Doors: 5, Seats: 7Fuel: Diesel, Engine: 2477 ccColor: BrownCondition: Used (Fresh condition), Mileage: 176,545 kmFeatures: Headlights, backlights, fog lights, mirrors, air-conditioning, and back camera all in good working conditionDocuments: Up to date Interested buyers: Please submit your tender at Cosmos Centre, 69/1 New Circular Road, Malibagh, Dhaka 1217 by 11th October 2024 before 12 pm. Contact: 01671113255  

Africa’s leading carrier the Ethiopian Airlines has announced to launch its new five weekly flights on Addis Ababa-Dhaka-Addis Ababa route from November 2 next. “Bangladesh is a dynamic and growing market, and we are confident that our modern fleet and exceptional service will meet the needs of travelers between our two regions,” said Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.  The commencement of Ethiopian Airlines’ new service between Bangladesh and Ethiopia will have a significant contribution to the socio-economic ties of both countries and beyond. The service will be operated with the state-of-the-art Boeing B787 Dreamliner, offering passengers a comfortable and seamless travel experience. “The route will offer various connecting flights in compatible fare to the Bangladeshi expatriates as the airline connects all major cities of Europe and North America from Addis Ababa, the base of the Ethiopian Airlines,” Managing Director of Rhythm Group, the airline's General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh, Shohag Hossain said. He said the Ethiopian airline that operates to 10 destinations of the US has the plan to conduct daily flights to Dhaka with its Boeing soon after initiating the operation of commercial scheduled flights in Bangladesh on November. After a series of consultations in line with diplomatic efforts of the two countries, the civil aviation authorities of the both countries signed the service agreement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December last. Ethiopian Airlines’ new Dhaka service will contribute to the airline’s extensive network of over 63 destinations in Africa and nearly 150 globally. Ethiopian Airlines, with 147 aircraft, is Africa's largest airline in terms of carrying passengers, destinations, fleet size, and revenue while it is ranked as world's fourth-largest airline by the number of countries served. 

A new initiative called "Otithi" has been launched to promote community-based and eco-friendly tourism across Bangladesh, focusing on environmental conservation and cultural heritage. The launch of the project was announced during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BRAC and the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) at BRAC Centre, Mohakhali on Tuesday. The MoU was signed by Abu Tahir Muhammad Jaber, CEO of BTB, and Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, said a press release. This initiative, by engaging local communities, aims to showcase their cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and natural beauty, while contributing to the long-term development of the country's tourism sector. “Otithi” is dedicated to promoting responsible tourism that respects local communities and their culture. One of the key objectives of this MoU is to advance the country's tourism sector by promoting and developing community-based tourism in different regions across Bangladesh. Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, highlighted Bangladesh’s abundance of tourist attractions and proposed a sustainable, eco-friendly tourism model designed to benefit both local communities and the environment. Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, Chief Executive Officer (Additional Secretary) of the BTB, mentioned that a comprehensive tourism master plan for Bangladesh, spanning 2024 to 2040, has been developed with a strong focus on promoting community-based tourism.

Orange Corners Bangladesh, a global initiative dedicated to strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems for youth, welcomed its third cohort into the incubation programme on Monday at Impact Hub Dhaka. The launch event celebrated 10 impact-driven enterprises selected from over 220 applications submitted from across Bangladesh. The top 10 businesses, selected after a rigorous screening process and in-person interviews, are Aqualink Bangladesh Limited, BriqUp, CrowdV, Delivery Hobe, FarmsHouseBD, Filamentify, Gramshop, Polka Flex, Purno, and Tutor Provide. These enterprises operate across Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Gazipur, spanning industries such as education, agriculture, logistics, health-tech, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Notably, 8 out of the 10 ventures are led by women, emphasizing Orange Corners Bangladesh’s commitment to promoting gender diversity. Through the Incubation phase run by YY Ventures, these early-stage enterprises can benefit from customized training sessions and master classes facilitated by local and international domain experts, and gain essential business management knowledge and skills through personalised coaching and mentorship. Upon successful graduation, each alumni enterprise can unlock Track I funding in grants up to 5,000 Euros, followed by Track II funding of up to 50,000 Euros each through a combination of a grant and soft loan if they meet all requirements. HE Irma van Dueren, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, graced the event as the special guest. She said, "Orange Corners has 22 hubs across 19 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, each on the same mission: to turn brilliant ideas into concrete businesses that create jobs and contribute to society. You're part of building the 'new Bangladesh,' and we are here to support this transformation. The energy of hope and new beginnings you see in this country is the same energy you'll bring to your journey. Seize this opportunity, learn from your peers in this community, and turn your ambitions into reality." Tazin Shadid, Chairman of the Board of YY Ventures was also present at the event. He said, "At YY Ventures, we’re always happy to facilitate incubation and acceleration, a service we’ve excelled at for almost 10 years. Many successful ventures have emerged from our entrepreneurship support programmes, including my own health-tech startup, which graduated from the YY Goshthi Incubation programme. I can personally vouch for the exceptional mentoring, customized content, the beautiful co-working space, and the incredible community that will help you thrive. In this ‘new Bangladesh,’ where everything is moving rapidly, Orange Corners offers the stability and foundation you need to build impactful businesses and contribute to economic reform." Since 2023, Orange Corners Bangladesh incubated 30 enterprises through the first and second cohorts, and graduated 25 of those which successfully met all requirements. Among the alumni enterprises, 23 were awarded funding via Track I grants through the programme. Applications for Cohort 4 of the incubation program will open on November 1, 2024.  

In response to the devastating flash floods in Feni, COAST Foundation has launched a Community Kitchen initiative to provide hot meals to flood victims. On September 3, approximately 400 people sheltering at Abdul Karim High School in Dagonbhuiyan Upazila received meals prepared by the foundation. A team of 10 COAST Foundation members and 7 local kitchen staff managed the distribution. In partnership with Start Fund Bangladesh, COAST has provided cooked meals to 1,400 people across 8 shelters, distributing 23,000 food packets over the past week. COAST Foundation's Executive Director, M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, along with senior officials, visited the kitchen site to oversee operations. They interacted with the flood-affected individuals, ensuring the quality of the food before distributing meals. Rezaul emphasized that providing assistance in the wake of the flood is a rightful service, not just charity. Meanwhile, the local administration in Feni has been working to restore essential services, including electricity and mobile networks. Initially, COAST funded the community kitchen programme independently. However, with support from Start Fund Bangladesh, they have expanded the initiative. Beyond hot meals, COAST has also distributed dry food packages in shelter centers. COAST has also supported local NGOs, OPCA and PRAN, in Noakhali by providing dry food, bottled water, and saline for distribution. So far, the foundation has allocated BDT 800,000 for relief efforts and is seeking additional support from donor agencies. The relief operations are being coordinated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from COAST’s central office in Dhaka, with senior staff assisting the field teams in Feni and Noakhali. For over 15 years, COAST Foundation has been working in the Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur districts, focusing on programs like microfinance and community organization.

Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, country’s leading electronics' company listed in capital market, declared an attractive 350% cash dividend to its general shareholders for the financial year 2023-24 amidst the adverse situation. General shareholders will get Tk 35 cash dividend per share. Its sponsors and directors decided to get a 200% cash dividend for the last financial year. That means, sponsors and directors of the company will get Tk 20 cash dividend per share. These decisions came out after review and approved the audited financial statement for the year ended 30 June, 2024 by the board of directors in its 40th board meeting held on Wednesday (September 4, 2024). To approve the dividend and financial statement, Walton calls the annual general meeting on 29 October, 2024 and the record date is 30 September, 2024. According to its disclosure, the operating profit margin of the company improved while the finance cost decreased in the FY 2023-24 compared to the last fiscal. That’s why, net profit after tax of the company for the year ended 30 June, 2024 increased by Tk 573.85 crore to Tk 1356.53 crore. As a result, Earnings Per Share (EPS) of the company stood at Tk 44.78 for the year ended 30 June, 2024, which was Tk 25.84 in the last financial year. The company has reported Net Asset Value Per Share (NAVPS) of Tk 379.30 (with revaluation), Tk 277.86 (without revaluation) for the year ended on June 30, 2024, as against Tk 343.73 (with revaluation) and Tk 242.18 (without revaluation) respectively for the same period of the previous year. Net Operating Cash Flows Per Share (NOCFPS) of the company stood at Tk 56.96 for the year ended 30 June, 2024 compared to Tk 111.84 in the previous year. The NOCFPS was decreased due to increased payments to suppliers and the government exchequer. These payments were necessary due to higher material purchases and sustainable sales growth. Company sources said, efficient management of the company was able to reduce operating cost in various sectors despite various adverse situation. As a result, various financial indicators of the company have also improved greatly. Also, the company's profit increased at the expected rate due to the increase in sales following expansion of business in domestic and international markets. The board of directors expressed satisfaction with the overall business success of the company and thanked the management. Walton management expressed the hope that the company will be able to maintain the continuity of profit growth in the coming years.

Turkish Airlines Inc., the national flag carrier of Türkiye and one of the world's leading airlines, is pleased to announce the appointment of İslam Güre as the new General Manager for its Dhaka operations, effective September 1, 2024.  Founded in 1933 with a fleet of just five aircraft, Turkish Airlines has grown to become a global powerhouse in the aviation industry, flying to more countries than any other airline. With a fleet of over 444 aircraft, Turkish Airlines connects passengers to 345 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Güre, who has been a dedicated member of the Turkish Airlines family for the past 10 years, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His most recent position was Regional Sales Manager in St. Petersburg, Russia. As the General Manager in Dhaka, Güre will oversee all operations, focusing on strengthening Turkish Airlines' presence in Bangladesh and ensuring the highest standards of service for passengers traveling between Bangladesh and the airline's global network. Güre is accompanied in Dhaka by his wife and their two children. Turkish Airlines warmly welcomes them to the Dhaka community and looks forward to their contributions to the success of the airline’s operations in the region.