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Oct132026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

BRAC Bank, Bangladesh Power Development Board partner to facilitate postpaid electricity bill payments

BRAC Bank has partnered with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to facilitate postpaid electricity bill payments through its nationwide distribution network and digital banking platforms, offering greater convenience to residential, commercial and industrial customers. BRAC Bank is the first private commercial bank to secure BPDB’s central account alongside a state-owned bank.Under the agreement, BPDB customers will be able to pay their postpaid electricity bills through BRAC Bank’s branches and sub-branches, its retail banking app Astha, and corporate digital banking platform CORPNET.BRAC Bank will also establish application programming interface (API) connectivity with BPDB to enable real-time updates of bill payment records. The integration will help streamline payment pr...

Oct132026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

ULKASEMI employee to receive insurance from MetLife

Breaking News, Business

ULKASEMI Pvt. Limited has signed an agreement with MetLife Bangladesh to provide comprehensive insurance coverage for its employees and their eligible dependents. Through this partnership, ULKASEMI employees and their dependents will receive financial protection against accidents, disabilities, and loss of life, along with in-patient, outpatient, and maternity insurance coverage.The partnership reflects ULKASEMI's commitment to employee well-being by ensuring access to comprehensive insurance solutions that help employees and their families manage financial risks associated with medical emergencies and unforeseen life events.ULKASEMI selected MetLife as its insurance provider due to MetLife’s consistent track record in claims settlement, customized solutions, advanced digital dashb...

Oct132026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Tobacco Control Essential to Protect Public Health: State Minister for Land

Breaking News, NGO News

State Minister for the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, has stated that tobacco control is indispensable for combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and protecting public health in Bangladesh.Emphasizing the urgent need for effective measures to protect the younger generation from the risks of nicotine addiction, he expressed his support for necessary legislative and policy measures that prioritize reducing tobacco use, safeguarding young people, and protecting public health.He made these remarks while addressing a discussion meeting titled “Amended Tobacco Control Act 2026 for Public Health Protection and the Way Forward” as the Chief Guest. The event was organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) at the CIRD...

Oct132026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

HONOR opens its first Alpha Store in Bangladesh

Breaking News, Business

HONOR has officially launched its highly anticipated Alpha Store at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka, bringing the brand's latest innovations, smart devices and AI-powered ecosystem together under one roof. Located on the fourth floor of the mall, the Alpha Store is designed as an AI Smart Living Innovation Hub, offering consumers an opportunity to experience how HONOR's devices work together across different aspects of everyday life. The Alpha Store is a key part of the brand's Alpha Plan, bringing its vision for an AI-powered device ecosystem to life through a physical retail experience. The concept made its global debut in Shenzhen, China, in September 2025, and has now arrived in Bangladesh as HONOR's third Alpha Store outside China. Senior HONOR officials attending the launch event incl...

Oct122026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Tree plantation under BYD Bangladesh’s ‘Green Drive’ initiative

Breaking News, Business

As part of its commitment towards environmental sustainability, BYD Bangladesh has planted trees at Sunvalley Grand Circle in Dhaka, in collaboration with the Sunvalley Community. The tree plantation drive was held on recently, marking the conclusion of its month-long 'Green Drive' campaign in September. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Mr. Ketsu Zhang, Deputy General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, and Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan, Chairman of CG Runner BD Ltd., and Mr. Amid Sakif Khan, Managing Director, CG Runner BD Ltd. Under the tagline 'Drive Today. Grow Tomorrow.', the campaign pledged to plant a tree for every test drive taken across BYD outlets in September, which resulted in more than 500 trees being planted. The initiative is part of BYD's w...

Oct112026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

‘Grihobondi’: A Powerful Story Reflecting a Deep-Rooted Social Reality

Breaking News, Entertainment

‘Grihobondi’ is a drama that explores a long-standing social reality. It tells the story of Sharif’s journey toward becoming Sharifa, addressing one of the most sensitive and widely discussed issues in society.The drama ‘Grihobondi’, which portrays Sharif’s journey toward becoming Sharifa, will be released next Thursday at 12:00 PM on the official YouTube channel of Shwapno Kanon Multimedia.The story revolves around a boy who exhibits feminine behavior from an early age and eventually wishes to become a girl. People with such identities are often socially associated with the hijra community in Bangladesh. The drama explores how this desire for change affects his family, including his sisters and parents, and how it influences their social standing. Will society accept him, or will ...

Oct112026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Gold Kinen wins fintech innovation award

Breaking News, Business

The gold-saving platform also receives an honourable mention for financial inclusion at the Bangladesh Fintech Awards 2026Gold Kinen Technologies Limited has won the Fintech Innovation of the Year award in the Tech category at the 4th Bangladesh Fintech Awards 2026, recognising its technology-driven approach to gold saving and financial inclusion.The company also received an honourable mention in the Financial Inclusion category for its innovation, “Making Gold Accessible: A New Path to Financial Inclusion.”The awards were received by the company’s three co-founders — Kamran Sunjoy Rahman, chief executive officer; Rafatul Bari Labib, chief commercial officer; and Atef Hasan Isa, chief financial officer.This is the second consecutive year Gold Kinen has been recognised at th...

Oct112026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

SPF Is More Than Just a Number

Breaking News, Feature

Before heading out in the morning, skincare has become an important part of many people’s everyday routine. Along with face wash, toner, moisturizer and serum, sunscreen has also become a regular part of daily skincare. However, when choosing a sunscreen, one of the first things that catches our attention is its SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number.There are many questions about what level of SPF should be used and why it matters. But before choosing a number, it is important to understand what SPF actually means.Simply put, SPF is a measure of the protection a sunscreen provides against UVB rays from the sun, which are primarily responsible for sunburn. UVA rays, on the other hand, penetrate deeper into the skin and are associated with premature skin ageing and long-term skin damage...

Oct112026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

IDLC Capital Market Conclave calls for greater corporate participation in the capital market

Breaking News, Business

IDLC Investments Limited, a subsidiary of IDLC Finance PLC, recently organized a discussion titled IDLC Capital Market Conclave 2026. Held on Saturday (October 10) at the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel, the event brought together industry experts to discuss the future of Bangladesh’s capital market and the development of a sustainable financial system.The event was attended by prominent policymakers, regulators, senior officials from banks and various corporate institutions, economists and capital market representatives. Discussions focused on measures to expand Bangladesh’s capital market and establish a more advanced and balanced financial system. Discussants emphasized the importance of increasing the participation of large institutions and reputable brands with strong financial fo...

Oct102026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Winners of BRAC Bank-Samakal Literary Award 2024-2025 announced

Breaking News, Literature

BRAC Bank and Daily Samakal have long been honouring writers and litterateurs with the aim of promoting Bangla literature and inspiring writers.The awards were announced at a ceremony at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on October 9, 2026.Eminent writer Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury and novelist Selina Hossain were honoured with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for the year 2024 and 2025 respectively. BRAC Bank and Daily Samakal introduced the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to recognise a veteran author who contributed significantly to Bangla literature.At the ‘BRAC Bank–Daily Samakal Literary Award 2024’, Abul Ahsan Choudhury won in the essay, autobiography, travel and translation category for his book “Vidyasagar, Bankimchandra, Rabindranath and Musolman Samaj”; Anwara Syed ...