Vol. 5 Num 234 Tue. January 18, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Business Cut graft, improve governance to boost growth rate: US envoy US ambassador in Dhaka yesterday urged Bangladesh government to launch fight against corruption and weak governance to accelerate the country's growth rate.   6-month revenue earnings clock 9pc growth Revenue collection amounted to Tk12,733 crore in the first half of the current financial year, posting around 9 percent growth. Modern Cement second unit starts operation Modern Cement Ltd (MCL), a publicly traded cement company, yesterday launched operation of its second unit catering 600 tonnes of cement daily to the huge market demand. Banking sector undergoes positive changes in 2004 Mamun Rashid (MR) is the chairman of ICC Bangladesh Standing Committee on Banking Techniques & Practice. He is also the CEO of Citibank NA, Bangladesh.   DITF 2005 now to begin on Dec 1 Dhaka International Trade Fair 2005 scheduled for February-March has been deferred to the yearend as an official announcement yesterday said the month-long exhibition will begin on December 1.   Bank holiday from Jan 20 to 23 Bangladesh Bank and all scheduled banks will remain closed from January 20 to 23 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, said a Bangladesh Bank press release.   South Korea keen to invest in Bangladesh energy sector South Korea is interested to invest in Bangladesh's prepaid gas meter, construction of transmission line and deep-sea gas and oil exploration.   New executive director of Hotel Sarina Shahid Hamid has become the executive director of Hotel Sarina, a business boutique hotel in Dhaka. Hamid is also the managing director of KSS, a tour and travel wing of the same group.   Yen holds near 5-yr high vs dollar The yen held near a five-year high versus the dollar on Monday following comments by European Central Bank (ECB) officials last week seen as urging China to revalue its yuan currency.   World leaders must give more support to WTO World leaders should show more commitment to the World Trade Organisation and hold a summit every five years to bolster support for the body, a panel set up to examine the WTO's future said Monday.   Indonesia still uncertain over Paris Club debt deal Indonesia on Monday reiterated uncertainties over a debt relief package offered by the Paris Club of creditor nations, saying the deal aimed at helping tsunami relief could negatively impact the economic   Mazda, First Auto to launch joint sales firm in China Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corp. said Monday it has won Beijing's approval to set up a joint sales firm in China with First Auto Works (FAW) and FAW subsidiary FAW Car Co. Ltd.     Advertisement