South Asia Investor Review

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=115742 Bangladesh Development Bank eyes January launch Md Hasan The much-awaited formation of state-owned Bangladesh Development Bank Ltd (BDBL) has reached the final stages with its registration completed with the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms. The central bank also approved a plan for BDBL to run as a scheduled bank. The registration was completed on November 16. A merger between Bangladesh Shilpa Bank (BSB) and Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha (BSRS) shaped up into BDBL. Officials say BDBL will be able to launch operations in January 2010, with industrial financing, commercial banking and merchant banking at the heart of its ... Read Full Story

The world media are focusing on scores of deadly terrorist attacks in the last four weeks claiming over 300 innocent lives in Pakistani cities, and tracking the military's counterinsurgency campaign unfolding in South Waziristan. However, the Pakistani blogosphere is buzzing with the news and pictures of the Fashion Week in Karachi . A series of fashion shows ended Saturday in which 30 Pakistani designers presented their creations. Karachi's Marriott hotel was the scene of the glamorous event. And there is a lot more that is happening in Pakistan. In October, a painstakingly detailed production of Chekov's "The Seagull" had a successful run in Karachi. ... Read Full Story

After painfully watching the heartbreaking scenes of carnage in Pakistani provincial capital of NWFP on TV screens, it came as a pleasant surprise to see the New York Times mention Peshawar in a different context; volunteer cartographers contributing to digital maps "from Petaluma to Peshawar". It particularly caught my attention because I have had the pleasure of visiting both of these fine cities, and I currently live not too far from the one in California. "From Petaluma to Peshawar, these amateurs are arming themselves with GPS devices and easy-to-use software to create digital maps where none were available before, or fixing mistakes and adding ... Read Full Story

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/11/18/news0891.htm IBBL trains employees of Nigerian bank Business Report The valedictory session of a week long “Pre-Launching Manpower Development Programme” organised by Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd was held on Sunday at the conference hall of its training and research academy. Prof. Abu Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher, Chairman, Board of Directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. was present in the function as Chief Guest. Presided over by M. Fariduddin Ahmad, Managing Director of the Bank the programme was addressed by Nazir Ahmed, Chairman of Academic Council of Islami Bank Training and Research Academy (IBTRA) and former Chairman of IBBL and Mohammad Mustafha Bintube, Chief Executive ... Read Full Story

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=84738 Shipbuilding industry sees growth spree Munima Sultana The country’s fast growing ship building industry is likely to see another growth spurt within a year as a number of foreign companies are seeking local partners to develop backward linkage industries. Ship building owners said joint venture investment are likely to come from Denmark, Germany, France and few other countries that would help reduce the foreign dependence from ship designing to painting to make world class ocean-going vessels. Officials of Danish Embassy said at least nine Danish entrepreneurs are working on establishing joint ventures to develop deck equipment, windows, generators, hydraulic system and marine electrical ... Read Full Story