Corporate
Bangladesh Finance Secures Back-to-Back Win as Top Sustainable Financial Institution
In a remarkable feat, Bangladesh Finance has once again clinched the title of a premier sustainable financial institution for the second consecutive year. The distinguished honor acknowledges the company’s steadfast dedication to sustainability and responsible financial practices. Md. Kyser Hamid, the respected Managing Director and CEO of Bangladesh Finance, was presented with the prestigious award by Abdur Rouf Talukder, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank.
The prestigious award ceremony partakes on the afternoon of August 29, 2023, within the grand confines of the Jahangir Alam Conference Center, hosted by the Central Bank. The event witnessed Abdur Rouf Talukder, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, extolling the exemplary efforts of sustainable banks and financial entities that have showcased an unwavering commitment to sustainable business models.
Bangladesh Bank laid bare the pivotal criteria that underpinned the bestowal of this esteemed recognition. The parameters encompassed maintaining an impressively low non-performing loan ratio, fostering sustainable financial avenues for small and medium-sized enterprises, championing eco-friendly refinancing, actively participating in corporate social responsibility endeavors, ensuring comprehensive banking coverage, and upholding the tenets of core banking sustainability. The focal point of the selection process was notably the sustainable financing index.
In the wake of the award announcement, the Managing Director & CEO of Bangladesh Finance, Md. Kyser Hamid, conveyed his gratitude and exuberance. He revealed that an impressive 29% of the institution’s total investments have been directed towards the Credit Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprise (CMSME) sector. Bangladesh Finance’s commitment to financial support extends beyond urban epicenters, encompassing the farthest reaches of the nation to empower a myriad of micro and small-scale entrepreneurs. In locales where physical branches are conspicuously absent, the institution has fostered strategic alliances with diverse organizations to dispense vital loan facilities.
Furthermore, Bangladesh Finance has assumed a proactive role in advancing financial inclusion for marginalized agricultural entrepreneurs across the nation. The institution’s financial outreach spans across nearly 40 districts, transcending the limitations of traditional branch banking through pioneering digital financing methodologies.
The event was graced by the presence of eminent officials from Bangladesh Bank, including the Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar and Executive Director Md. Khurshid Alam, thereby underscoring the monumental import of this accomplishment in the realm of sustainable finance.
The Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) has once again recognized Bangladesh Finance for its remarkable achievement of receiving the Top Sustainable Financial Institution Award 2022 from the country’s central bank.
This prestigious accolade marks the second consecutive win for Bangladesh Finance, cementing its commitment to sustainable financial practices. The award was presented to Md. Kyser Hamid, the Managing Director & CEO of Bangladesh Finance, who was joined by Md. Kohinoor Hossain, Head of SME & Sustainable Finance.
The award ceremony took place on Saturday (September 30), at the BIBM Auditorium in Dhaka. Distinguished guests, including Bangladesh Bank’s former Governor Fazle Kabir and Economic Relations Division Secretary Sharifa Khan, graced the event with their presence. Notably, the event was co-hosted by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ Bangladesh).
The awards were bestowed upon sustainability-rated banks and financial institutions, recognizing the top 7 banks in the private sector and the top 4 financial institutions for their commitment to sustainability. Bangladesh Bank had officially declared these awards on August 29, following a comprehensive assessment of various factors, including credit score, capital, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, rural banking activities, and the sustainability of core banking operations. BIBM, in turn, acknowledged and celebrated these achievements during the event.
Among the attendees was Md. Sajjadur Rahman Bhuiyan, Group CFO of Bangladesh Finance, along with other senior officials, further highlighted the institution’s dedication to sustainable banking practices.
The Institute of Management Consultants Bangladesh (IMCB) mourns the loss of Prabin Behari Barua, a distinguished Senior Member and dynamic mentor. Barua bid farewell to this world on September 10, 2023, in Dhaka, after battling the challenges of old age and a long-standing chronic illness.
The news of Barua’s departure has sent ripples of sorrow throughout the IMCB community. M Zakir Hossain, Chairman of the CMC, Nadeem A Chaudhury, President, along with the esteemed Members of the Executive Council of IMCB, share in the profound sadness of this moment. They extend their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, offering solace during this challenging time. The Executive Council, in a poignant tribute, beseeches for the eternal peace of Barua’s departed soul.
Barua’s untimely passing leaves an irreplaceable void within the IMCB family. He was a man of unwavering dedication, unimpeachable integrity, and a remarkable personality. His profound wisdom, astute insights, and exceptional expertise were instrumental in providing invaluable services to the Management Consultants Profession.
The IMCB community remains eternally grateful to Barua for his substantial contributions, which have significantly advanced the growth and development of IMCB. His legacy will endure as an inspiration to all.
Evercare Hospital Chattogram, a prominent healthcare provider in the port city, recently organized a Special Patient Forum within its Department of Paediatric Cardiology to commemorate World Heart Day – 2023.
The event featured key addresses, including a welcoming speech by Dr. Ratnadeep Chaskar, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Evercare Hospitals, Bangladesh. Dr. Tahera Nazrin, Founder and Head of the hospital’s Paediatric Cardiology Department, provided an overview of the department, while Samir Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Evercare Hospital Chattogram, delivered the closing remarks.
Dr. Chaskar underscored the significance of their special initiative, stating, “We view the free Paediatric Cardiology Department package for underprivileged children as an exceptional endeavour.” Dr. Nazrin, in her address, emphasized the importance of creating awareness about heart conditions in children, highlighting that these conditions are both treatable and preventable. She further spotlighted the hospital’s comprehensive Paediatric Cardiology services, including the provision of free devices and balloons for the treatment of congenital heart defects and defective valves in underprivileged children.
Evercare Hospital Chattogram’s unwavering commitment to offering complimentary treatment for congenital heart defects in underprivileged children reflects its dedication to enhancing the well-being of all members of the community.
