StanChart to celebrate 50yrs of Bangladesh’s independence

Standard Chartered Bangladesh (SCB) has taken a series of financial and cultural initiatives to celebrate the country's 50 years of independence. As a part of the move, the British lender yesterday rolled out a commemorative credit card at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka in the capital.

Against every commemorative card activated the bank will donate Tk 500 to Liberation War Museum, said Standard Chartered Bangladesh CEO Naser Ezaz Bijoy.

This will get the cardholder's name registered in the list of the museum's donors.

The cardholders will get the same facilities as those availed by those having Visa platinum credit cards. Clients can now apply for the card, which will be available from the last of week of May.

"With 116 years of uninterrupted presence in Bangladesh, Standard Chartered is the only multinational universal bank in the country with a unique blend of deep-rooted local presence and capacity to capitalise on its global network and product coverage," said Bijoy. The bank was the first to open letters of credit (LCs) on behalf of Bangladesh once independence was achieved, he said. It is also the country's first lender to pioneer the roll out of credit cards, call centres, automated teller machines, collateral-free personal loans and many other banking products, he said.

Bitopi Das Chowdhury, head of corporate affairs, brand and marketing of the bank, said the lender would organise a competition titled "Battle of the Corporate Bands" with the theme "50 years of Progress and Prosperity of Bangladesh".

Competitors will render songs played by Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro during the Liberation War of 1971.

"Amazing talented musicians work in the corporate world but they have a limited number of platforms to showcase their talent. We will work with an agency partner to host this event," Bitopi said.

The jury panel will comprise legends of the music industry.

SCB has also sponsored the Gems of Nazrul—an initiative to portray National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's musical genius in a new light and popularise his spirited songs— produce a special music video.

The music video will be telecasted on Channel i at one-minute past midnight on March 26.

Some 100 of the country's leading vocalists and dancers will perform in the music video.

Paying homage to those who secured Bangladesh's independence, around 100 of the SCB staff will walk from Central Shaheed Minar to National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.

The event will be arranged under the theme of "Shok Theke Shokti (turning grief into strength) in collaboration with Obhijatri, a youth group that promotes adventure, travel and Liberation War Museum.

The SCB has also taken an initiative to recognise former staff who were freedom fighters.

In addition, the lender has taken measures to bring foreign direct investment to the country under a programme, namely "Showcase Bangladesh: throughout the year of the 50th year of independence".

Liberation War Museum Trustee and Member-Secretary Sara Zaker, Nazrul Sangeet artist Sadia Afrin Mallik, pop singers Shafin Ahmed and Naquib Khan, mountaineer Nishat Majumder, musician Ibrar Tipu and SCB Head of Retail Banking Sabbir Ahmed addressed the event, among others.