Dhaka Mass Transit Partners with Mediacom

UCB Investment has been honored as the "Best Investment Bank in Bangladesh" by both the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024 and the Finance Asia Award 2024. This marks the second consecutive year the merchant bank has received these accolades. Sharif Zahir, Chairman of United Commercial Bank (UCB), praised the recognitions as a testament to client trust and a motivation for continued excellence.

A nine-member committee has been established to review the development projects, procurement plans, and programs executed by the ICT Division and its subsidiaries from 2009 to 2024. Headed by the ICT Division Additional Secretary and with a Deputy Secretary as member secretary, the committee has conducted its first meeting with representatives from key organizations like the Hi-Tech Park Authority and the a2i Project. However, officials from the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) and the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) were absent.

According to a global report on 'Digital Trade for Development,' Bangladesh is making notable progress in its IT sector, particularly in software development and IT-enabled services. The report, prepared by major international organizations including the IMF, OECD, UNCTAD, World Bank, and WTO, highlights the potential of digital technologies to boost e-commerce in least developed countries (LDCs).

Huawei and Walton have signed a contract to produce lithium batteries in Bangladesh for telecom Base Transceiver Stations (BTS). Walton will manufacture the batteries, launching them in approximately seven months with an 80,000-piece annual capacity. Huawei will provide technical support, design expertise, and raw materials. This shift from lead-acid to lithium-ion batteries aims to address environmental and efficiency issues.

Bangladesh’s ship-breaking industry, which has led the global market for nine years, is facing challenges in complying with international environmental standards following the 2023 ratification of the Hong Kong Convention. The industry must meet these standards by June 2025, but a shortage of skilled workers, technical experts, and financial resources is hindering the transition. Despite efforts, only four ship-breaking yards have received green certifications in the past seven years, and even certified yards struggle with safety and expertise issues.

Universal College Bangladesh has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Eastern Bank PLC to strengthen the link between industry and academia. This partnership aims to offer students enhanced career opportunities through exclusive placements, internships, training programs, and knowledge-sharing sessions. Students will also benefit from guest lectures, career guidance, and mentoring sessions. Recently, Universal College Bangladesh has established several partnerships with reputed organizations to provide practical learning experiences.