Published on 12:00 AM, June 23, 2008

22 get CIP status

The industries ministry yesterday handed out Commercially Important Person (CIP) cards to 22 industrialists for this year in recognition of their contribution to their respective fields.
They were nominated as CIPs as per the government's CIP (Industry) Policy 2008, said a ministry statement.
Of them, seven were chosen ex officio, eight were selected under the large-scale industry category, five were picked up under the medium-scale industry category while the other two were nominated under the small-scale industry category.
Earlier in May this year, the commerce ministry announced the names of 49 people as CIP for the first time after 2002.
Special Assistant to Chief Adviser for Industries Mahbub Jamil distributed the prestigious CIP cards among the recipients.
Dignitaries nominated ex officio are Annisul Huq, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Waliur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Mirza Nurul Gani (Shovon), president of National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (Nascib), Abdul Hai Sarker, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Nasreen Awal Mintoo, president of Women Entrepreneurs' Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) and MA Shahid, acting president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI).
Individuals nominated under the large-scale industry category are Gulam Mostafa, chairman of Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Limited, Masih Ul Karim, adviser of the board of directors of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Ali Hossain Akber Ali, managing director of Bangladesh Steel and Re-rolling Mills (BSRM) Limited, Riazuddin Al Mamun, managing director of Epyllion Group, Mohammad Shahjahan, chairman of Jalal Ahmed Spinning Mills Limited, Mohammad Gulam Faruque, managing director of F S Sweaters Limited, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, director of Agricultural Marketing Company Limited and Mahbub Jamil, managing director of Singer Bangladesh Limited.
Nominated under the medium-scale industries are Maj Gen (retd) Amjad Khan, managing director of Pran Foods Limited, M Mozibar Rahman, managing director of BRB Polymer Limited, Engineer Mohammad Nurul Haque, director of Sagar Garments Limited, Mohammad Mizbar Rahman, managing director of Kiam Metal Industries Limited and M Miraj Hossain, managing director of M P Sweaters Limited.
Managing director of MBM Garments Limited Mahmudur Rahman and chairman of Tushuka Fashions Limited Arshad Jamal were nominated as CIP under the small-scale industries category.
The industries ministry statement said the CIP (industries) cards will be considered as entry passes in the secretariat. The cardholders will be invited to national programmes as well as to civic reception organised by city corporations.
The CIPs will enjoy preference when it comes to booking seats in public transport for business tours, the ministry statement said.
The foreign ministry will send letters of introduction to embassies and high commissions in Dhaka so the CIP could easily get visas.
They will also be able to enjoy the facilities of VIP Lounge-2 in airports during their travel.