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  • Rubaba Dowla Biography | Secrets of successful and Iconic leadership

    Rubab Dowla Matin is a name with a perfect combination of personality, talent, and beauty. She is a Bangladeshi successful woman entrepreneur and corporate icon who brings digital transformations to the business world.

    Rubab has gained every bit of honor, recognition, renown, and reputation correlated with her. But, how? Is her journey of being an entrepreneur smooth or full of hardship? 

    Rubaba Dowla Biography

    This article will explore all her education, profession, the challenges of an entrepreneur’s life, net worth, and so many things. So let’s deep dive into the biography of Rubaba Dowla. 

    The Early Life of Rubaba Dowla

    Rubab Dowla doesn’t like to publicize her personal life; that’s why we don’t like to disclose her birth date and place too. The dynamic corporate queen Rubaba Dowla is one of the high-profile and most successful names in the Bangladesh telecom sector.

    Educational Background of Rubaba Dowla

    As she is a business-oriented person, her educational background is full of business studies subjects. She obtained her BBA and MBA in Marketing from Dhaka University in 1992-1996. After that, she joined an Executive Management program at Stockholm School of Economics in 2002.

    There she gathered knowledge about economics and its good and bad effects on a country’s total GDP. But, she wasn’t satisfied with her education because she felt she should know something extraordinarily to think out of the box. That’s why after 5 years in 2007, she also pursued a Strategic Marketing Program at London Business School. There she found she had many scopes to flourish her talent. 

    The knowledge she gathered from London Business School, she started to implement in her working sector. Then, in 2012, she got a chance to join the Strategy and Action Program (SIA) at Harvard Business School. 

    Working Experience

    Rubab Dowla is an example of solid working experience in brand management, corporate communications, product innovations, and service delivery. So let’s have a look at her glorious professional life.

    Grameenphone Ltd

    After passing out from Dhaka University, she first joined Grameen phone as an officer of product development and planning. There she worked hard, so within a few years she got a promotion and took the responsibilities of the marketing department. There she gave her service from 1998 to 2009. Before leaving Grameen phone, she also performed as the head of the brands and customer service division.

    At that time, the Grameen phone became the number one telecom brand and market leader in Bangladesh because of Rubaba Dowla’s foresightedness, excellent leading, and profitable decisions. 

    Airtel Bangladesh

    Airtel is another multinational telecom brand. When it noticed Grameen phone’s success under Rubaba Dowla’s leadership, it offered her to join as a chief service officer and head of mCommerce. As a talented lady, Rubaba Dowla grabbed the opportunity and started her new job in 2010. She combined all her knowledge, working experience, and intelligence to grow Airtel as a famous brand. In the meantime, she also worked as the President of the Bangladesh Badminton Federation.

    Rubaba Dowla as the President of TiE 

    TiE Young Entrepreneur (TYE) was built in 1992 by combining mentoring, education, incubating, networking, and funding. And it is a non-profit organization. Dowla worked there as the President of TiE and tried to foster young entrepreneurs to build a strong network with existing entrepreneurs.

    Founding Pulse healthcare services

    She wanted to work for the healthcare sector for many years as she believes that healthcare is one of the essential areas to serve the country’s people.

    When mobile penetration has become widespread, it becomes very convenient to design a digital healthcare platform to deliver healthcare services in rural areas. After thinking this, she founded Pulse healthcare services.

    But, why does its name pulse healthcare service? 

    The math behind this name is elementary. You know, when you go to the doctor’s chamber for any sickness, first doctors check your heartbeat by counting your pulse and then primarily try to define the reason for your sickness. 

    That’s why Rubaba Dowla took her health care organization name pulse healthcare services. She designed the structure of this telemedicine service to avoid a crowded hospital and the long queue of patience. 

    That means if you have a smartphone and internet connection, you can take specialist physicians’ advice through video conferencing. It makes taking health services more accessible, faster, and smarter. So no more regional and time boundaries to get the best health service from the best doctors. 

    Rubaba Dowla as the Country Manager And Director of Oracle

    Right now, she has been working as a  country managing director for Oracle in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan since 2019. It is a cloud-based software company that offers computing infrastructural help to many businesses to unlock their efficiency and effectiveness. Oracle is trying to boost cloud adoption across industries.

    Oracle selected Mrs. Rubaba as a country manager and detector because of her seventeen years of successful working experience in the telecommunications sector. Here she worked to encourage people to grow and learn how to solve any problem with digital skills. 

    Rubaba served as the Independent And Director of DSE

    The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) approved the inclusion of four independent directors in the board of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Rubaba Dowla was one of them.

    They were chosen on the basis of their expertise, experience, and integrity, and will serve as independent voices on the board, said the BSEC in its official letter sent to the managing director of the Dhaka bourse. Earlier, the DSE had sent a list of some 18 people to the regulator for the post of independent directors of the bourse.

    Rubaba Dowla in the Sports Arena

    Rubaba Dowla has made a remarkable mark in Bangladesh’s sports administration, blending her corporate leadership with a passion for athletic development.

    Rubaba Dowla joins the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) board as a director on 07 October 2025.  She will become only the second woman in BCB’s history to serve as a board director, following Monowara Anis Minu, who held the position in 2007.

    Appointed as a director of BCB, she stands out as one of the few women in such a high-ranking position in the country’s cricket governance. Her inclusion signals a progressive step toward greater gender diversity and professionalism within the board.

    Before her BCB role, Rubaba served as the President of the Bangladesh Badminton Federation (2009–2015), where she played an instrumental role in promoting grassroots participation and organizing national-level tournaments. Additionally, she has been involved with Special Olympics Bangladesh, supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities and advocating for inclusive sports opportunities.

    Her corporate experience — spanning leadership positions at Grameenphone and currently Oracle — has complemented her sports management career, bringing strategic thinking, sponsorship insights, and organizational discipline into sports governance. As a long-time supporter of cricket through corporate sponsorships, Rubaba’s transition from the boardroom to the cricket board reflects her deep-rooted commitment to advancing Bangladesh’s sporting landscape. Her new role at the BCB is expected to strengthen women’s cricket and foster more structured, sustainable sports development nationwide.

    Specialties of Rubaba Dowla

    Rubab Dowla is a famous and established telecom personality in this industry. She is a highly professional and experienced leader. She has been working hard to build Grameenphone as a premier brand.

    The areas of her specialties are

    • Management of Marketing and Commercial operations 
    • Business and Marketing Strategy development and implementation
    • Brand, communication strategy management, and development
    • Management of customer experience, Corporate Affairs, CSR, CRM

    Significant Accomplishments

    Rubab Dowla established Grameenphone as the number one Brand in Bangladesh. It has also been recognized by Informa Telecom Report 2008 as top 100 telecom brands in the world.

    Rubaba successfully managed 300% subscriber growth over 2.5 yrs with more than 65% market share. She introduced many innovative services in Bangladesh. Some of her innovations are utility bill pay, WAP portal, banking transaction details through SMS, WAP portal, juice lifestyle product for the youth segment, etc.

    Some Quotes

    Here we like to share some of her best quotes. She found those words work like magic behind success. 

    • “If you work toward gender equality, then that takes care of empowerment, discrimination against women, violence against women, and all of the other related issues.” 
    • “Demanding equal opportunity for everyone and equal rights for everyone, I believe is the right area to focus on.”
    • “I think that is not just something you choose; you have to focus on equality because that is extremely important, if not most important.”

    Additional Honors and Awards of Rubaba Dowla

    She has received many recognitions for her bold performance in the telecommunication sector. She leads the industry from the upfront. Here are some of her awards and recognitions

    • Rubab has Enlisted in Who’s 100 women leaders in Bangladesh. 
    • She became Top 50 Women in mobile content.
    • Mobile Entertainment Forum listed her in the top 5 most powerful women in mobile in Asia.
    • She got the Begum Rokeya Shining personality award in 2006.
    • Not only that, but some of her successful product innovations also gained World GSMA awards and acclamations.

    Success Tips to the Youth from Rubaba Dowla

    This soft-spoken lady shares her success tips with the youth to become successful in their life.

    • She suggested the youths have common sense and have strong faith in their guts. They need to develop their skills such as Excel, PowerPoint, and other essential IT skills.
    • Never confine yourself to the Bangladeshi context for expanding your knowledge level; go global.
    • Not only your skills but also your attitude helps you to bring success in your life.
    • Balance your professional and personal life to have a successful career. 

    Glamor Life of Rubaba Dowla

    The charismatic lady, Rubaba Dowla, is an internet sensation. That’s why don’t you think all the time she deep dive into her corporate works and is a down-to-earth lady. Besides her corporate life, she also has a glamorous and personal life. In her family life, Rubaba Dowla is happily married and blessed with a son.

    She has extensive interests in music. In her free time, she loves to sing. So that in 2008, she sang two songs in a mixed album featuring Taposh named “Jabi Jodi Chol Chol.” Her two songs titles are “Smriti Gulo Khone Khone” and “Rateri Nirobota.”

    Net Worth of Rubaba Dowla Matin

    She is a successful corporate lady and entrepreneur, making a handsome amount every year from her job. As a  country managing director for Oracle in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan she earns a very handsome amount. Besides it, she also gets profit from her business, Pulse healthcare services. There is hardly any dependable data about her income. So now you are to speculate how much her net worth can be!

    Final Words

    Rubaba Dowla is a role model among the young generation, and she is the perfect example of women’s empowerment. Not only in the corporate industry but also she puts her footstep in many sectors and becomes a strong woman. So we can say – she is an excellent asset to Bangladesh. Find one of the well-known businesswomen in Bangladesh.

    But, yes, she doesn’t get all those successes in a day like magic. She dreamt and worked to fulfill her dream. If you can hang with your dream, one day you can also reach it. So today is the day to take your baby steps towards your goal.  

    Visit if you want to know about another iconic businesswoman Rubana Huq?

  • Syed Manzur Elahi | A successful industrialist in Bangladesh

    Apex is a famous footwear brand in Bangladesh, and Mr. Syed Manzur Elahi is the founding Chairman of this Group. He is one of the prominent business figures in our country because of his multiple businesses. 

    But, do you know Apex is not just a footwear company. It combines the seven most prominent companies, including Apex Tannery, Mutual Trust, Pioneer insurance, etc. Apex started its journey with only Tk. 15,000. At that time, Mr. Manzur was an employee of another company. 

    However, today our arrangement is about Mr. Syed Manzur Elahi and the real story of his Apex. So be with us to know more about this business hero.

    Early Life of Syed Manzur Elahi 

    He was born in 1942 in Kolkata. His father’s name was Sir Sayem Nasim Ali, and he was Chief Justice of Kolkata High Court. His mother’s name was Sharifunnesa Begum, and she was a housewife. But, she liked to read books and listened to Rabindra Sangeet.

    They were four brothers, and among them, Mr. Manzur Elahi was fourth. But, unfortunately, his father died when he was only five years old. So that’s why his elder brothers brought him up. But, unfortunately, at present, two of his elder brothers are no more.

    Educational Background

    Manzur Elahi passed his study period in almost one institution. He studied primary grade to graduation in St. Xavier’s College, established in 1860.

    In 1962 he came to Dhaka after passing his BA degree. Then he got admission to the University of Dhaka, and from there, he completed his MA Degree in Economics in 1964.

    Marriage Life of Manzur Elahi

    He established Sunbeam English Medium school in Dhaka in 1974 with Niloufer. When they were working together, they found they were excellent friends, and their ideologies matched. So they decided to get married. Now they have a son and a daughter. 

    However, Mr. and Mrs. Manzur have tested Corona positive, and Mrs. Niloufer Manzur died on 26th May 2020. 

    About Apex 

    Apex is an English word that means the peak. Mr. Manzur was fond of being first in every section from his childhood.

    Apex is highly famous only because of its footwear presentation all over the world. It produces around 3 million pairs of shoes only to meet the demand of our country. It has more than 550 outlets in Bangladesh. And, it exports approximately 5 million pairs of shoes in more than 40 countries along with 130 outlets.

    Syed Manzur Elahi & Apex

    Like any other youth, Mr. Elahi was puzzled about what to do at the beginning of his career. So he decided to prepare for the CSP exam of the Pakistan Service Commission to get a govt. Job.

    But, his luck led him to get on the right track to be today’s Mr. Manzur Elahi. It was a story of one afternoon that changed his life. Let’s know what happened that afternoon.

    The Exclusive Afternoon Of Manzur’s Life

    One afternoon, he walked near a building named Jinnah Avenue. Now it is known as Bangabandhu Avenue. At that time, one of his senior brothers, Humayun Khan Kurni, wanted to know what he was planning to start as his profession. So while he shared his thoughts on CSP Exam preparation, Humayun Khan suggested not doing so. 

    Mr. Humayun said that doing a Govt job would bring a limited and specific amount of money at the end of the month. Mr. Manzur also found that it was right. Then he applied to a Multinational Company named British American Tobacco. After that, he went to Karachi to sit for the interview.  

    The Funniest Moment of Interview Board

    During the interview, one of the interviewers asked about Manzur’s demanded salary. Manzur claimed 900tk. The interviewers started to laugh a little. He got scared at that time and thought he claimed much. 

    So, he said again, “It is okay too if you pay me Tk. 600”. Interviewers couldn’t stop themselves from laughing aloud at that time. He then got confused. 

    They said that “Our starting salary is 1900tk”. After hearing that, Manzur became extremely happy, and he continued his job there for six years and six months in total.

    Beginning of his Business Career

    26th February 1972 was Manzur’s 30th birthday. He chose that day to start his new journey to begin his own business. So, he left his job at only 30 years old. Then he planned to establish a business.

    The Struggle of Convincing Family Members To Establish a Business

    Manzur met Lemon Cleric in 1972, who was the tannery business exporter and importer. His tannery business influenced Mr. Manzur. He began to think about the tannery business. 

    But when he shared his idea with his family members, they opposed him because he was the son of a family that conveyed a liberal attitude towards the law. Not only that, five of his generation were lawmakers in their careers. In that sense, Mr. Sayed didn’t get any support from his elder brothers.

    However, while he told his plan to begin a business, his elder brother asked him-“How much do you know about business? Nobody in our family is a businessman.” 

    His wife Niloufer Manzur also opposed his decision. But Syed Manzur was determined to follow his business plan. Later his father-in-law supported him mentally and convinced his wife.

    How Was His Journey Towards Tannery?

    Mr. Manzur was utterly new to the business field. So, he had to pass a lot of difficulties. Finally, however, he started to export all his products to Japan when running his business.

    But, in 1993-1994, Japan fell into great economic difficulties. As a result, many of the business organizations in Japan stopped importing tannery from him. At that time, he fell into serious trouble.

    The Beginning of Apex Footwear

    While he got his tannery business lost, he went to Italy and met the top business persons in the country. They offered him to make footwear. So he tried from 1993 to 1996 but continuously faced business losses in terms of the footwear business.

    His footwear production began to decrease as he couldn’t catch the customers’ needs. Then he found footwear is also a fashionable item like garments products. So, he needed to improve the quality and models.

    The demand for footwear models is continuously changing depending on the season. But, unfortunately, trouble caught him top to bottom.

    Problems Became Greater

    He exported his footwear to a renowned Italian factory. Suddenly it started denying ordering a significant amount. When he tried to find out the reason, he faced a brutal reality. 

    China grabbed the global market with less price to export their products. However, the Italian company found it was highly competitive to compete with China. So it shifted to those companies to get its products. This is why the company stopped ordering from him. 

    The Turning Point of Mr. Elahi

    He proposed to the Chairperson of that Italian company to come to Bangladesh and start working with him. Unfortunately, first, the company’s shareholders didn’t show him any interest. But later, he could successfully describe his plan. Lastly, due to his determination and long-time business relationship, they agreed. 

    Then he proposed a joint venture which was the turning point for him. And, he started the real journey of his Apex Footwear Company. 

    Manzur Elahi Idol

    In his early life at university, he got inspired by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. Mr. Elahi read many books of Tata and got encouraged by his ideology. Jamsetji Tata was his only hero to decide between being a businessman.

    Conclusion

    Mr. Manzur Elahi is not only a successful business figure in Bangladesh. Instead, he has a good personality in terms of his character.

    To be today’s business person for Sayed Manzur Elahi was not that easy. But, although he didn’t get mental support from his family to start a business, he had a strong passion. 

    He wanted to be the top Businessperson. And he proved that if you have a strong wish for anything, you can attain the peak. 

    We hope Mr. Syed Manzur will be your pioneer in making the right decision based on your potentiality. Explore another industrialist in Bangladesh.

  • Bond Market in Bangladesh | Complete database you need to know

    The effective bond market plays a vital role in the economic development of a country and presents long-term financing opportunities to the issuers by creating an alternative source of finance and provides a stable source of income to the investors. The bond market in Bangladesh will be presented with every bit of information you need to know.

    In Bangladesh, most of the debt financing need is fulfilled from the banking sources, which burdens the overall banking sector while presenting significant systemic risk. Therefore, the development of a well-functioning bond market would ensure financial stability by enhancing the ability of financial institutions to manage risks.

    Government Security: 

    Government Security is a tradable instrument issued by a sovereign Government. It acknowledges the Government’s debt obligation. Such securities are short-term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year) or long-term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with an original maturity of one year or more).

    The Government borrows funds from domestic sources by issuing tradable and non-tradable securities to finance the budgetary deficits. 

    • Tradable T-Bills:14-day, 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day T-Bills;
    • Tradable T-Bonds: 2- year, 3-year FRTB, 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year T-Bonds;
    • Non-tradable securities include Sanchayapatras and Prize bonds.

    Eligible Investors: Resident Individuals and institutions, such as banks, NBFIs, insurance companies, corporations, provident funds, pension funds, etc., can purchase and trade T-bills and T-bonds. However, foreign/non-resident individuals and institutions can invest only in T-bonds.

    As per the agreement between The Government of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Bank in 1985 (Treasury rules-1998 (Appendix-1, Section-3) and Bangladesh Bank (BB) Order-1972, article 20 empowers BB to issue new loans and manage public debt for the Government

    Features of Treasury Bills

    • The market determines the price
    • They are issued at a discount and redeemed at face value at maturity.
    • Tradable in the secondary market.
    • Issued in scriptless form.
    • The Central Bank releases a monthly calendar through the BB website.

    Features of Treasury Bonds

    • A risk-free fixed coupon-bearing debt instrument
    • Maturities are available within 2-20 years.
    • It carries a half-yearly coupon payment, and the principal is repaid on maturity.
    • The market determines yield.
    • Tradable instruments in the secondary market.
    • Issued in scriptless form.

    Participation in Auctions and Trading

    • Weekly (usually on Sunday) auctions of Treasury Bills are held following a pre-announced auction calendar with a specified amount. Bidders quote their prices. The Auction Committee determines the cut-off price from the offered prices.
    • Weekly (usually on Tuesday) auction of BGTB of a particular tenor is held following a pre-announced auction calendar with the specific amount. In case of a new issue, bidders quote their expected yields, and in re-issue auctions, they have to quote price.
    • Primary Dealers (PDs) can place bids in the auction. Other commercial banks and Non-Bank Financial institutions, Insurance companies, corporate, individuals, provident funds, etc., can also participate in the auction through PDs.
    • The minimum bid amount is Taka one lac, and its multiples.
    • Scheduled Banks and financial institutions maintaining accounts with Motijheel Office of Bangladesh Bank will take the initiative to open Business Partner Identification (BP ID) in favor of their individual/institutional customers. BP ID holders can access the Market Infrastructure (MI) Module of Bangladesh Bank to participate in the auctions. Individuals may also buy or sell government securities in the secondary market over the counter (OTC)/Trader Work Station (TWS) of the MI module.

    Benefits Can you derive by Investing Treasury Bonds

    • It is a risk-free investment since the sovereign Government issues it.
    • One can get an attractive rate of interest since the yield is determined in the market.
    • Since these bonds are tradable in the secondary market, one can obtain instant liquidity by selling them in the market.
    • All receipts of interest and maturity are fully repatriable in case of foreign investment.
    • One can get the best services from the Central Bank of Bangladesh, which maintains a fully automated scriptless depository system named Market Infrastructure (MI) Module.

    Evolution of the Government Securities Market in Bangladesh

    Year  Initiatives/Events  
    1972  Introduction of the issuance of 90-day (3-month) treasury bills (T-Bills) in August on a tap basis
    1995In October, treasury bills started being sold through auction at the market-determined rate
    1996Introduction of 30-day and 180-day treasury bills in February
    1997 In March, the auction of 1-year treasury bills was introduced
        1998Issuance of 30-day, 90-day, 180-day, and 1-year bills through weekly auctions In September, existing T-bills were replaced by newly introduced 28-day, 91-day, 182-day, 364- day
    2002Introduction of Central Bank Repo facility against T-bills Introduction of IB Repo facility against G-Sec
    2003Issuance of Bangladesh Government Treasury bonds (BGTB) Rules, 2003 in September Introduction of Primary Dealer (PD) system Issuance of 5-year and 10-year BGTBs
    2006  Introduction of auction calendar for the first time based on a deficit budget
    2007  Issuance of 15-year and 20-year BGTBs Introduction of liquidity Support (LS) to the PDs against government securities (G-Sec) Introduction of bidding commitments and underwriting obligations on PDs for T-bills and BGTBauctions Introduction of underwriting commission for the PDs
    2008Suspension of the issuance of the 28-day T-bills Introduction of mark-to-market requirements under the accounting framework for government securities (G-Sec)
    2009Introduction of automated delivery versus payment (DvP) settlement system
    2011Introduction of the Market Infrastructure (MI) Module for the automation of G-Sec management and operations
    2013Introduction of re-issuance of BGTBs Issuance of 2-year BGTB
    2014Issuance of the circular directing funded pension provident funds of banks to be invested in GSec
    2016Introduction of Government Securities Order Matching Trading Platform (GSOM) in August Introduction of 14-day T-bills
    2017Started publishing report on G-Sec on an annual basis (from FY 2016-17) Publication of Bangladesh Compound Rate (BCR) as a reference rate
    2018 Introduction of the secondary market yield curve (on a test basis)
        2019  Introduction of 3-Year Floating-Rate Treasury Bond (FRTB)   A working committee comprising members of BB, BSEC, and a commercial bank published the ‘Comprehensive Framework on the Development of the Bond Market in Bangladesh.’
    2020A strategic decision was taken to enlist G-Sec on DSE’s trading platform
    October 08, 2020Sukuk Guidelines, 2020‘ circulated by MoF
    December 28, 2020First Sukuk Bond issued
    December 02 2020Hiring Consulting Firm (National) for the Feasibility Study and Development of Guidelines on Green Sukuk for the Shariah Based Banks and Financial Institutions
    August 16, 2021  *On June 23, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) granted primary approval for the BEXIMCO Green-Sukuk with some conditions.   On July 8, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission gave the final approval to BEXIMCO for issuing a Tk 3,000-crore Shariahcompliant Sukuk. On August 16, Beximco’s Sukuk IPO subscription starts

    Types of Bond Market in Bangladesh 

    Government Securities (G-Sec) Market

    • Treasury Bills (T-Bills)
    • Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds)
    • Bangladesh Government Investment Sukuk

    At the end of FY 2019-20, the total outstanding of the Government’s borrowing from the banking sector stood at BDT 279,601.97 crore; Constituted 10.00% of the GDP (compared to 7.86% at the end of June 2019). The total outstanding amount of T-bills was 62,783.52 crore, and T-bonds were 216,818.45 crores.

    In FY 2019-20, the banking sector was the leading investor category, 

    • with 73.79% of the total outstanding of G-Sec; 
    • Long-term investors, like insurance companies and provident funds, accounted for 12.39% of the total holding; 
    • Bangladesh Bank held about 12.40% for its monetary operations. 

    Corporate Bonds

    • Governed by Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) 

    Corporate Bond Market 

    BSEC governs the corporate bond market in Bangladesh. For issuing debt instruments through private offers, issuers are required to apply under the Securities and Exchange Commission (Private Placement of Debt Securities) Rules, 2012;

    The outstanding size of the public, the corporate bond market is insignificant compared to the G-Sec market. 

    Key Indicators of Corporate Bond Market: Private Offer 

    For debt instruments through public offers, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Public Issue) Rules, 2015, Securities and Exchange Commission (Private Placement of Debt Securities) Rules, 2012 apply.

    Key Indicators of Corporate Bond Market: Public Issues 

    The outstanding size of the public corporate bond market is insignificant comparing to the G-Sec market. 

    Operation of G-Sec Market 

    Primary Market Operation 

    Debt Management Department (DMD) of Bangladesh Bank acts as the debt manager of the Government in consultation with the MoF; Cash and Debt Management Committee (CDMC) has been formed for the supervision of the Government’s borrowings chaired by Secretary, Finance Division;

    BB is authorized to conduct auctions for raising loans on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh. The process of raising loans involves the issuance of government securities. The Auction Committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor of BB, determines the cut-off rate of the auction of government securities. 

    Bangladesh Bank has its depository system for the transaction and settlement of Government securities in the Market Infrastructure (MI) Module. In 2011 BB introduced this automated system to expedite the primary auction and secondary market.

    Secondary market of Government securities

     Bangladesh Bank initiated Market Infrastructure (MI) Module to automate trading and settlement of Government securities transactions in October 2011. The secondary market of Bangladesh’s Government securities comprises Over the Counter (OTC) and Trader Work Station (TWS). Both the procedures are integral parts of the Market Infrastructure Module (MI Module)-government securities’ automated auction and trading platform.

     Over-the-Counter (OTC):

     Participants must submit a sale/buy order in the OTC platform while the counterparty confirms the order in the OTC market. Once they complete the trading process and the system accepts trades, the data automatically flows to Core Banking System (CBS) to clear and settle funds to achieve the settlement of funds in CBS. Further, the trading securities have been transferred automatically to the buyer securities account in MI.

     Trader Work Station (TWS):

     Bangladesh Bank has introduced the Trader Work Station (TWS)- an Order Matching system. The TWS is an electronic, screen-based, order-driven trading system for dealing in Government securities. In addition, the platform highlights the existing facility of the Over-The-Counter (OTC) market in Government securities. Further, the TWS brings transparency in secondary market transactions in Government securities. Members can place bids (buy orders) and offer (sell orders) directly on the TWS screen. The system is order-driven that matches all bids and offers, focusing on price/time. In particular, it matches the order on a first-come and first-serve basis among the similar price orders. In addition, the TWS facilitates Straight-Through-Processing (STP) system. In that system, trades are automatically sent to the CBS for settlement.

    Treasury/Government Securities (G-Sec) Management and Operational Process in Bangladesh

    1. Investment Process in Treasury Securities

    1.1. Investor’s Securities Account (Business Partner ID) Opening

    1.2. Investing in G-Sec via Banks and Financial Institutions

    1. Primary Market of G-Sec

    2.1. Auction of New Issuance

    2.2. Auction of Re-Issued Securities

    1. Secondary Market of G-Sec

    3.1. Anonymous Order-Matching System (OMS)

    3.2. Over-the-Counter (OTC)

    1. Open Market Operations

    4.1. Repurchase Agreements (Repo)

    4.1.1. Repo with the Central Bank

    4.1.2. Inter-Bank Repo

    4.2. Assured Liquidity Support (ALS) for Primary Dealers

    1. Trade Settlement Process via Core Banking Software (CBS)
    2. Report Generation and Management Functions in the MI Module

      Circular on Business Partner ID in MI Module

    Mi Module Functionalities

    Govt. Securities Order Matching (GSOM)

    Govt. Security Trading supports by Banks/NBFIs( Lanka Bangla Finance, for example)

    Challenges in G-Sec Market 

    • Proper Cash Management 
    • Introduction of a Medium-Term Auction Calendar 
    • A Large Number of Securities in the Market 
    • Absence of Established Pension/Provident Funds 
    • Proactive Market Making Activities by PDs
    • Prolonged Approval Period 
    • Lack of Debt Instruments Issued by Different Government Bodies 
    • Bonds Issued By Banks through Private Placement are Not Being Listed 
    • Overreliance on Bank Financing 
    • Absence of a Separate Trading Platform for Debt Securities 
    • Awareness Programs for the Investors and the Issuers

    The Prospects of a Vibrant Long-Term Bond Market in Bangladesh 

    All the aspects discussed below offer a massive prospect for an active, long-term bond market in Bangladesh: 

    Diversified Investment: A developed and diversified financial system with a sound debt and equity market enhances risk-pooling and better risk-sharing opportunities for investors and borrowers. The fixed-income securities market links the issuers having short and long-term financing needs with investors willing to place funds in short and long-term interest-bearing securities. In addition, it makes the financial market more competitive by generating market-based interest rates. 

    Flexibility: A well-functioning market offers the Government and the private investors the flexibility to diversify their funding sources and provides them with alternative sources of raising funds having different maturities. 

    Deficit Financing: An active market allows the Government to finance large fiscal deficits without resorting to financial repression or foreign borrowing. The drive to develop the government bond market typically comes from the Government to facilitate the financing of large fiscal deficits.

    Monetary Policy Implementation: The development of a well-functioning fixed-income market supports the efficient implementation of the monetary policy. It offers the instruments needed for the execution of monetary policy and improves the transmission mechanism of the monetary policy. Long-term bonds also facilitate the sterilization operations by the Central Bank as exclusive reliance on short-term instruments tends to drive up the short-term interest rates and encourage further inflows into such instruments. 

    Inflation Control: Developing a bond market, especially a vibrant G-Sec market, can improve access to local currency financing. An active G-sec market can offer local currency investors, such as retail and institutional investors, a way to invest in the local currency, and therefore, ensure better management of inflation and exchange rate risk. Also, a safe alternative investment compared to local currency bank deposits.

    Low-Cost Financing: The long-term fixed-income market, being accessible to foreign investors, increases financial integration by attracting foreign capital, which can lower the cost of borrowing for the Government and improve risk-sharing across countries. Moreover, the local currency government bond market can function as a catalyst for developing corporate bond markets by providing a benchmark yield curve. Similarly, derivatives markets cannot flourish without a well-developed fixed-income market with underlying assets.

    Less pressure on the Banking Sector: while the stock market capitalization of about 20% of the total financing requirement, 80% of debt financing comes from the banking sector. The banking sector cannot usually lend for longer than around five years, given that 70% of bank deposits are for one year or less. Funding long-term assets with short-term liabilities create a considerable maturity mismatch in the banking sector.

    Conclusion: 

    With the timely initiatives from Mof, BB, and BSEC, the Bond market in Bangladesh has taken a constructive shape. As a result, the Government can get the lion’s share of the budget deficit from securities. However, we still have miles to go to reach and exceed the international standards regarding the bond market. A vibrant and efficient bond market is crucial for a stable capital market with more comprehensive depth and capitalization. Besides, it shares the pressure on the money market and provides access to finance for long-term projects. Know all about credit cards here.

  • M Anis Ud Dowla | Successful and visionary Entrepreneur in Bangladesh

    ACI is one of the well-known multinational companies in Bangladesh. It produces foods, pharma, consumer products, logistics, chemicals, consumer electronics, automobile services, communication, etc.

    But, do you know who the visionary of this multinational brand is? Yes, he is none other than Mr. M Anis Ud Dowla. He established this company as a brand with hard labor, foresight, vision, and outstanding leadership. 

    He has been offering his leadership to different fields of business from the very beginning of his professional life. This article will explore this 84-year-old legendary’s personality, professional life, leadership, and so many other things. So let’s deep dive into the words. 

    Early Life of Mr. Anis Ud Dowla

    M Anis Ud Dowla was born on 1st March in 1937 at Faridpur, undivided west Pakistan. He is one of the sons of his parents’ seven children. His father’s name was Khan Bahadur Mohammad Ismail, and he was a lawmaker.

    His mother’s name was Kakabun Nessa, and she was a housewife. His mother was very fond of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and regularly read his books.

    His father was a very disciplined person, and he was taught to live a disciplined life by his father. He got the book reading habit from his mother. Both of his parents were pious and trained their children’s integrity and religious beliefs. That’s why Mr. Anis is a very righteous person in his life.  His father encouraged them to listen to BBC news to develop their English listening skills. So you can realize how brilliant his father was!

    He has four sisters and two more brothers. Today’s famous Nazrul Githi singer Firoza Begum was his younger sister.

    Sister Feroza Begum-Legendary Singer

    Feroza Begum’s 88th Birthday
    Google Doodle on July 28, 2018, Feroza Begum’s 88th Birthday

    Legendary Feroza Begum was born on July 28, 1930. When she was just a student of class 6, a great hype was created surrounding her as she was a very prominent singer on All India Radio. Dur Dipobashini and Momer Putul are the two songs that brought her momentum success as a singer. Her outstanding contributions to Nazrul Geeti brought her “Swadhinata Padak”, “Ekushey Padak” and many more like:

    1. Netaji Shubhash Chandra Bose Award,
    2. Nasiruddin Gold Award,
    3. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Gold Award and
    4. D. Litt from Burdwam University.
    5. Gold Disk from the renowned Japanese audio production company CBS.
    6. the Nazrul Sammanana Award from the West Bengal government in India in 2012.
    7. West Bengal’s highest cultural award, the Bangla Bibhushan Samman, in May 2015
    8. Churulia Gold Medal
    9. Meril-Prothom Alo Lifetime honorary award (2011)
    10. Sheltech Award (2000)

    Feroza Begum and Kamal on wedding day

    In 1956, she was married to Kamal Dasgupta.  Kamal converted to Islam before the marriage and took the name Kamal Uddin Ahmed). He was a singer, composer, and lyricist. Kamal died on 20 July 1974 at the age of 62. Two of their three sons, Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed are musicians. They are members of the rock band Miles.

    Feroza breathed her last on September 9, 2014, at the age of 84. She is in the heart of Bengali-speaking people for her evergreen songs.

    Educational Background of Mr. Ud Dowla

    He started his study life at Faridpur Zilla School. At that time, today’s most renowned poet Golam Mostafa was his headmaster. He was an outstanding student, so every teacher loved him.

    Then in 1952, he got admitted into the University of Dhaka and received his certificates in Physics. Later he got a scholarship from the Asia Foundation in Public Administration in Karachi. He got admitted to Karachi University in 1959 for that scholarship. He wanted to be a civil service professional after passing out from the University. 

    The Beginning of His Career

    Mr. Anis joined Pakistan Oxygen Limited as a Regional Branch Manager at the starting period of the company. At that time, the British had ruled the country. So he got the chance to join different world-leading business subsidiaries. 

    He could learn many skills, got knowledge about many aspects of the business from these business subsidiaries. In 1970 he came to Dhaka after developing his career into different positions over West Pakistan. After the independence of Bangladesh, he got the charge of the newly inaugurated Bangladesh Oxygen Branch as a managing director. 

    Mr. Dowla and Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) 

    1987 was Mr.Dowla’s turning point. He joined another British multinational company called Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). As he had experience playing the managing director role for Pakistan Oxygen Limited, he joined as a Managing Director. 

    Suddenly, most of the shareholders of the company left their shares. As Mr. Dowla is an intelligent person, he picked the opportunity. He took the leading position and became the Chairman of this Company. After that, in 1992, he changed the name of ICI to ACI.

    ACI started its journey with eight cores and 350 employees. That was the revolutionary period of the ACI group. Then it spread its breaches from one company to another under the leadership of Mr. Dowla.

    Now, it creates employment opportunities for more than 15 thousand employees. And that eight crores capital reaches 5000 crores. So at present, you can see ACI is playing the crown role in the betterment of Bangladesh’s economy.

    Behind the success of the ACI group

    Success doesn’t come overnight. It needs persistence, focus, and hard work. Mr. Dowla always focused on the product’s quality, innovation, and customers’ attention. The combination of those three brought the success of the ACI group and also Mr. Dowla’s life. 

    As the recognition of this company’s product quality, it achieved the globally standard ISP- 14001 Certificate in 2000

    Ideology of M Anis Ud Dowla

    He believes in fundamental knowledge. He tried to understand his job nature first in terms of the technical aspects wherever he started his work. He tried to be a step ahead of other employees. 

    This is why, in his first job, he became the most knowledgeable technical person within two years. He was also a cooperative person besides having advanced technical knowledge. His colleagues and other staff took help from him as he could get the technical things very quickly. 

    He has been elected as the president of BAPLC for the tenure 2022-2023. BAPLC represents the publicly listed companies of Bangladesh in the capital market.

    Conclusion

    The powerful personality of Mr. M Anis Ud Dowla always pays his attention in honesty. He doesn’t like to go through any shortcut or dishonest way. He thinks that if you want to grow, you have to practice some qualities to be a quality person. And honesty is the first prioritized among them.

    However, he is a role model for those people who think nothing is possible in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the highest potential land to build one’s career success. 

    Therefore, nobody needs to leave Bangladesh and go abroad to build a career from his thoughts.

    Find all about Salman F Rahman and his leadership.

  • Credit Cards in Bangladesh | Should you love or leave?

    With just a swiping of your credit card, you pay a handsome bill of thousands to lacs worldwide instantly without any penny with you. Your credit cards make it possible. However, such wide-accepted safe transaction has not been successful overnight. There goes a long history of credit cards to come today’s perfection.

    Bangladesh is not lagging behind in the era of credit cards, the Cashless Bangladesh movement has fueled it too. Let’s find credit cards in Bangladesh in short.

    Key Takeaways: Credit Cards in Bangladesh

    • Market Growth: The credit card sector has expanded significantly, with over 2.8 million cards now in circulation and monthly transactions exceeding 3,500 crore BDT.
    • Interest Rate Landscape: Most major banks maintain a monthly interest rate amounting around 25-30% per year.
    • Dual-Currency Dominance: Dual-currency cards are now a standard necessity for managing global subscriptions and foreign travel, subject to the annual $12,000 travel quota limit.
    • Fee Waiver Culture: Most institutions offer annual fee waivers based on usage, typically requiring between 12 to 24 transactions per year to void the cost.
    • Lifestyle Perks: Competition among issuers is driven by Buy-One-Get-One dining offers at 5-star hotels and unlimited airport lounge access through networks like Priority Pass or local SkyLounges.

    History of Credit Cards

    Credit cards have a long history to reach today’s destination. We will present the whole story and history in some short details to give you an overview.

    Pre-history of Credit Cards

    The history begins with the idea of credit cards in science by Edward Bellamy in his book Looking Backward, first published in 1888. The credit card was cited 11 times in the book!

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 814UKKL5z7L.jpg

    Then, Charge/Courtesy cards in the 1920s and Charga Plate in 1934 made the ideas of the cards more realistic and implementable.

    Modern Card History

    The tribute for credit cards goes to Frank McNamara, who devised the idea of dining now, pay later concept. There is a story that he went for dinner in a restaurant in New York City but forgot to carry his wallet. When the bill arrived, he was embarrassed and thought of the idea of ways to pay later. The game started in 1949. 

    In 1950, he and his friend Ralph Schneider started Dinners Club primarily with 27 restaurants and 200 members. They charged $3 yearly from members and 7% from the merchants. The concept was so successful that it increased to 20000 members in the first year. The success spread the card out of the USA to Canada, France by 1953. 

    Around the same time, Alfred Bloomingdale started Sign and Dine cards in Los Angeles. Hearing the story of Diners Club, he contacted and discussed with Frank and Ralph and consolidated their card business.

    Bank of America introduced cards in 1958, and the cards soon spread all over the world.

    Few World Statistics

    • First credit card issuer bank is Bank of America
    • Walter Cavanagh won the Guinness Book of World Records with 1,497 cards, a credit line of $1.7 mill.
    • Around 2.8 billion cards are issued
    • Canada has the highest % of card users(82.58%)
    • VISA is the highest number of the card issuer, followed by Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

    Few Insights in American Aspects

    • 79% of Consumers have at least one credit/charge card
    • Visa is the most used card, followed by Mastercard.
    • Discover and Amex are the third and fourth in the queue of service providers.

    History of Credit Cards in Bangladesh

    Credit cards have become a must-have possession for the last couple of years in Bangladesh. Almost all the banks and financial institutions are vying severely to give a card with lots of sweet talks and offers. People from all walks of life, especially jobholders, are the main targets of these card issuers. Cards are distributed and activated with many colorful aspirations, but life gets caught with the debts and loans after a few months.

    Credit cards in Bangladesh

    Formal orientation of credit cards in Bangladesh happened with Standard Chartered Bank in January 1, 1997. SCB was then with the name ANZ Grindlays Bank. At first, the VISA and Mastercards were in BDT. National Bank Limited in 1997 initiated the dual currency cards. And now? There is hardly any banks/NBFIs that do not issue credit cards. 

    You need not take me wrong that I am discouraging with the drawbacks of any credit card. But, it’s not like that. Today, I will share both pros and cons of a credit card but be sure that I will focus mainly on the wrong aspects to keep your life easy, comfortable, and debt-free for long. Taking benefits of the modern tools has never been bad, but if the benefits can not outweigh your problems, I must suggest not approaching that sweet topic.

    Few statistics in Bangladesh

    Bangladesh’s credit card infrastructure appears to be thriving as the monthly domestic transactions is more than Tk 3,500 crore.

    The number of ATM/CDM/CRM is more than 13,000.

    As of January 2026, the number of Credit cards issued was around 28,00,000.

    Department stores such as Shwapno, Meena Bazar, Unimart capture nearly half of all domestic credit card spending

    Credit Card Products in Bangladesh

    Each bank?NBFI is different in its card names and features. Some of the names of cards are as the list goes:

    VISA

    • Visa Classic Credit Card
    • Visa Gold Credit Card
    • Visa Platinum Credit Card
    • Diners Club International
    • Visa Corporate Platinum Credit
    • VISA SIGNATURE CARD
    • Visa Infinite Credit Card
    • RFCD card
    • ERQ Platinum
    • Visa Islamic banking cards

    MasterCard

    • Mastercard Gold Card
    • Mastercard Titanium Credit Card
    • Mastercard World Credit Card

    City Bank American Express

    • American Express Credit Card (Local/Dual)
    • American Express Gold Credit Card
    • American Express Platinum Credit Card
    • American Express Gold FC Credit Card
    • American Express Platinum FC Credit Card
    • City Islamic Gold American Express Card
    • City Islamic Blue American Express Card
    • City Alo American Express Credit Card

    Diners Club International

    EBL Diners Club International

    JCB Cards

    JCB Credit Cards

    Co-branded/Private Label Cards

    Meena Bazar Co-Branded Visa

    EBL Shwapno Co-Branded

    EBL Basis Co-Branded Credit

    Advantages of Credit Cards in Bangladesh

    The evolution of credit cards presents the history of problem solutions. Cards were born to drive away holders’ limitations and shortcomings. Let’s explore the advantages of credit cards in the perspective of Bangladesh.

    Less physical theft

    Carrying a handsome amount of cash is risky of theft and robbery. Your cards can save you from them. You are taking only a plastic card to avoid the scenario as the cards are not readily usable as cash. In addition, cards are password and authentication protected, so thieves are not very interested in stealing them.

    Reward points

    It is bizarre but true that buying in cash hardly provides rewards nowadays. But, with some specialty cards, you can lot of offers, rewards, and concessions. So, have some ideal cards and avail the bonuses and discount offers on almost all outlets. Accumulating reward points will give you options of encashment or availing of free purchases.

    Safety

    Cards are issued and maintained by the reputed and most prominent organizations. They are worldwide entities concerned a lot about security and reputation, and your safety is their concern. With cards, you are not only safe from physical theft; the issuers will handle online scams if you follow timely steps. In addition, the platform and the reputation will ensure you more cybersecurity than cash transactions.

    Comfortable

    Carrying a card is much more comfortable than having a good amount of cash notes. In terms of space, comfort, and ease, cards outweigh the facilities of cash.

    Transportable

    Cards are easy to transport and carry compared to cash. A plastic card will facilitate you with a few lacs of cash equivalent. You are carrying a plastic card that can provide all the cash requirements readily. Taking bundles of cash has become obsolete with the arrival of cards.

    Digital

    In the digital world era, cards are the perfect partner in your digital journey and lifestyle. With credit cards, you can harvest the true potentials of digitization. Your life gets more virtual than ever with the virtue of a card. Payments, receipts, transfers are all made with some taps of fingers.

    Versatile

    Credit cards offer you a true sense of versatility. Previously cards were well known for facilitating credit purchases. The time has changed a lot to provide booking, ticketing of bus, train, theatre, cinemas, mobile recharge, fund transfers and many more. Nothing that involves money is out of the purview of cards nowadays.

    Remote payment

    Suppose you will pay another city/country. Can cash help you comfortably? Cards may be the right choice here. You can pay anyone, anywhere.

    Prepayment

    Suppose you will visit another city/country next month and need to pay for your hotel bills in advance. Cards are the perfect tool to make your advance bills in seconds from your home.

    Status

    Having a credit card is no longer limited to status; it is getting to necessity. Still, it has always been a symbol of status. To maintain the friend circle and society’s class, you may need to own one or more cards to use on different occasions and locations.

    Lounge

    If you are to use airports now and then for official/business/personal tours, you must feel the necessity to avail the lounge facilities offered to credit card holders. For a safe and honorable stay at lounges without any extra charges(in most cases), you will require to have a card. So, credit cards are not only for transactions; they are sometimes for relaxation.

    Foreign payments

    Those who pay for various bills and subscriptions in foreign currencies can feel the relaxation with cards. Dual-currency cards can make your foreign payments hassle-free. You need not visit any bank branch or money changer to make the payment.

    The Quickest

    Credit cards are the quickest payment solution for your busy life. You need not waste your valuable time in counting, checking cash. All you need is to authenticate the transactions. Besides, you need not visit the banks and grocery outlets. You can make everything from home. You can pay with cards and take home delivery.

    Emergency fund

    Credit card debt may be a good source of emergency funds. You may withdraw with card checks or cards and even can transfer to MFSs without any extra charge. So, when you require urgent funds, your cards are just saviors.

    Grace period

    You may purchase on credit cards at home and abroad as there is a grace period of around 45-50 days maximum based on the billing cycle. For example, suppose your bill generate on the 4th, and the last payment date is the 20th. If you make a transaction on the 5th, you will get a grace period of 45 days. If you transact on the 4th, your grace period comes down to 15 days.

    Smart

    With digitization at its peak, smart payments and transactions are getting priority. Credit cards ensure smart payments at ease. Cards may be one of the most used ways available near you.

    Supplementary Card

    Another great feature you can enjoy is the supplementary card. You can avail supplementary cards for your family members who do not fulfill the conditions to get a card by themselves. Receiving a supplementary card is very easy, contact the issuer card division or your known representative to avail one.

    Insurance Coverage

    Some card issuers provide insurance benefits for credit card users get insurance benefits in case of an accident, permanent total disability, and death. Usually, dues are waived and some prefixed amount is given to the cardholder /nominees.

    Disadvantages of Credit Cards

    Excessive and unnecessary expenses

    As you do not have to carry cash, you can expense any amount. But, again, as you are not paying now, you consume even for unnecessary and less urgent items. Carrying cash puts a limit, but cards encourage consumption with offers and reward points.

    Falling in debt trap

    Most of the credit cardholders fall into debt over time with unnecessary consumption. The first few months are easy to manage with help from the near and dear ones, but situations get tougher and unmanageable over time. Then, debts start piling, and you may be a victim of the loans.

    High-interest rate

    Credit cards are payment solutions, not fund sources. If you finance from cards by not paying your dues, you must bear an unbearable interest rate. The effective rate and charges now is around 30% in Bangladesh,(The declared interest rate from March 2026, as per Bangladesh Bank is 25%) though banks’ lending rate is under 15%.

    Lots of fees

    Using credit cards becomes sour when you miss the last date of payment. You are charged a heavy extra in the name of late payment fees. In addition, the interest gets higher if you are to make any amount for delayed payments.

    Pressure in date management

    If you are several cardholders, you will feel the hard pressure of managing the dates to make the bill payments in time.

    Inaccessibility

    Another ignored sad story may be the inaccessibility or unavailability of services. Suppose you are out of home with your card and found that the services will not be available for scheduled maintenance; life will become a burden as you have no cash as a digital life lover. However, card issuers send messages/emails before causing any maintenance. So, be careful to avoid such wrong timings.

    Not allowing own account.

    Withdrawal of funds from card checks is cheap, but the problem is that you can not place the check in your account. Instead, you have to deposit it in another person’s account. It creates some complexities.

    Extra Charges

    Things are not always rosy for credit cardholders in Bangladesh. Some retailers may want to charge you 1%-2% extra if you pay in cards. If you have ever visited and tried to pay with credit cards in IDB for electric items, you must have faced such a weird situation, I believe.

    Origins of credit card traps

    Too many cards

    The trap and burden of credit cards start when you are opting for multiple cards. Having several cards may not harm you until you pay the dues of one card with another card’s funds.

    Too much limit

    A man, by nature, is not self-regulated. Some regulations and limitations make him abide by the existing policies. When you have access to a considerable amount, you are expected to spend more in most cases. Try to keep your limit as minimum as possible to keep out of spending addiction.

    Using cash withdrawal facilities

    You will hardly fall prey to the debt burden if you are not taking cash facilities from credit cards. Taking funds makes you more prone to fail in non-payments on due dates. Credit card funds are expensive, and when you are using this facility, you will have to pay a lot as an interest charge.

    Missing full payments

    It is crucial to pay your monthly bills in full. Usually, interest is heavily charged until you complete full payment. Paying the minimum amount is not enough to avoid an interest charge. If you pay partially, interest is charged on full dues.

    Waiting the last minutes and forgetting the last dates

    Many cardholders wait for the last date to pay for cards and sometimes miss the deadline due to being busy, sick, or having other issues. As a result, some of you may forget to pay at last. If you have several cards, it is natural that few dates will be out of your memory. When you miss the deadline, you are to pay a high charge.

    Carrying always with you

    If you desire to be out of the credit card trap, you should not always carry your cards with you. Instead, when you are going shopping or for other purposes, take the card with you. This method will help you avoid unnecessary expenses.

    Best Credit Cards in Bangladesh

    Best cards with lower interest rates and charges

    • Dutch Bangla Bank Limited cards
    • Prime Bank Limited Cards

    Best cards with lounge facilities

    • EBL cards
    • City Bank Amex Cards
    • BRAC Bank Cards
    • SCB Cards

    Best cards from International issuers

    SCB cards

    FAQs

    What are the requirements for a credit card in Bangladesh?

    Basic Documents

    • Application form
    • Copy of valid N Identity Card/Machine Readable Passport
    • Copy of valid passport for dual/international card
    • Copy of E-TIN Certificate
    • Two copies of photographs
    • CIB Enquiry & CIB Undertaking forms

    Supplementary Card

    Copy of National ID Card/Passport/Birth Registration Certificate for a supplementary cardholder.

    For Salaried Persons

    • Salary Certificate/ Pay Slip
    • Latest 3 months’ bank statement

    Based on your profession, the documents required may vary from bank to bank. so, please collect the documents list from the representative while applying.

    What are credit card CVV and expiration dates? How long is a CVV number?

    Card verification value (CVV) is a security and identity feature. It reduces theft and fraud. Card verification code (CVC) or card security code (CSC) also refers to the same issue. For online payments/transactions, you will require to confirm the CVV and expiration dates. CVV is usually 3/4 numbers.

    Do you have to pay for a credit card?

    There are yearly and SMS charges you are to pay for a credit card. However, you may have some offers and conditions to avoid the charges, especially the yearly charge with some specified transactions.

    What are the best dual-currency cards for freelancers?

    Bank Asia SHADHIN Mastercard and EBL Aqua card are easy to get and convenient dual-currency cards specially designed for freelancers.

    Is MasterCard available in Bangladesh?

    Mastercard Debit and Credit cards are widely available and usable in Bangladesh. You can use almost all POSs and ATMs over the country.

    Is VISA Card available in Bangladesh?

    VISA is one of the most issued cards in Bangladesh, backed by most of banks and non-bank financial institutions. You can avail of and use them on almost all ATMs, POSs, and online platforms.

    How can I pay my VISA card bill online in Bangladesh?

    Paying your VISA card bill is more comfortable and flexible than you think. You may pay with dropboxes(particular banks), visiting bank branches, online banking or apps, Mobile Financial Services, and many more ways.

    How can I pay my Mastercard bill online in Bangladesh?

    You can pay for MasterCard by bank branches, dropboxes, online platforms. However, Bkash is not providing services for these card payments though it supports VISA and Amex bill payments.

    Is a credit card company/network and issuer same?

    May be the same as Amex and Discover or different as Visa and Mastercard.

    Checklist for a credit card selection?

    Getting a credit card is very easy in Bangladesh. But before taking any card, be aware of the following checklist:

    1. Annual fee
    2. Interest Rate
    3. Late Fee
    4. Credit Limit
    5. Wide Acceptability
    6. Necessity
    7. Loyalty/Reward points
    8. Lounge Facilities
    9. Payment options
    10. Fund Transfer
    11. Grace Period
    12. Security Deposits
    13. EMI coverage

    Final Notes

    Over the years credit cards have been usually the boons all over the world. However, there are many instances that people have submerged in debts with the misuse of cards. If you look before leaping. The use of cards (credit cards, priority, shopping cards, and debit cards ) in Bangladesh may make your lifestyle comfortable and worth living. Avoid the debt trap and enjoy the virtues of innovation. Find details on Credit Card Operations Policy.

  • Rubana Huq Biography | Professional life with leadership and net worth

    Women empowerment is booming in this twenty-first century. Many women start their businesses to be self-employed and create employment opportunities for others. Here, Rubana Huq is one of the successful businesswomen and keeps a significant impact on the concept of the business arena in Bangladesh. We are going to explore all about Rubana Huq biography and how she succeeded as a great female leader of the apex body of the garment industry.

    She is a well-known figure in Bangladesh because of her intellectual knowledge in business, entrepreneurship, and poetry. She is the wife of late Mayor Anisul Haq. 

    She has been performing the Managing Director role of Mohammadi Group, one of the country’s largest conglomerates, for several years. Not only that, she was the first female elected as the president of (BGMEA) Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cRNlRUBq3g

    If you are a real fan of Rubana Huq and want to know her biography from birth to today, then stick to us. This article describes all her personal life, marriage, children, professional life, and net worth. Let’s get started.

    Rubana Huq Biography

    Rubana Huq was born in Dhaka on 9th February 1964. That means she was born before the birth of Bangladesh and witnessed our liberation war.

    She was a student of the famous Viqarunnisa Noon School, and from there, she has completed her schooling. Then she was admitted into Holy Cross College to receive her higher secondary certificate. 

    She was also a student of Dhaka University but couldn’t continue her studies there because of politics. But, she was not satisfied with her education, and there was a thirst for education. This is why, after a long gap, she was admitted to the East-West University, and in 2008 she received her bachelor’s degree in English. 

    She wanted to take the highest educational degree. So in 2018, at the age of 54, she took her Ph.D. degree from Jadavpur University.

    So now you can realize there is no age limit to take education. You can be a student at any age if you are hungry for education. 

    The career of Rubana Huq

    She started her career by television presenting. There she learned many aspects of television media. After that, she worked as the CEO of one of the Kolkata-based television channels, Southasia, from 2006 to 2010.

    She was the managing director of Mohammadi Group from 1995-2017. It was her family business, and its main work was dealing with ready-made garments. First, she diversified the business operation into digital distribution, software, power generation, real estate, etc. Besides handling this company, she launched the Nagorik television channel. 

    In her colorful career, another new chapter opened in 2019. She was the first female who was elected as the president of BGMEA. She is now working there to develop Bangladesh‘s ready-made garment sector and its million workers’ well-being. 

    Rubana Huq as a Vice- Chancellor

    She was a proud women member of Asian University’s trustee board, and there she honestly performed her responsibilities. She became the chair of the trustee.

    The government has recently selected her as the Vice Chancellor of AUW. Her tenure starts on February 15, 2022.

    Rubana Huq as a writer

    She loves to read poems and other books. And there is a poetic mind in her. So she wrote a poetry book named Time of My Life. In her book, she tried to write poems according to her life journey, how she defines her life and many other things. 

    Personal life of Rubana Huq

    Now she is a widow. In London’s Wellington Hospital, her husband, Dhaka North mayor, Mr. Annisul Huq, died on 30th November, 2017. Before that, she was happily married to her husband though it was both of their second marriages. Navidul huq, Wamik, Tanisha, and Sharaf are the names of her four children. Now she has two grandchildren. 

    Awards

    Undoubtedly, she is a multi-talented lady and also very intelligent. As a result, she received awards from some organizations, which motivated her to take her next steps. 

    ● In 2006 she received the SAARC Literary Award because of her book.

    ● In 2013 and 2014, she was also featured for the BBC 100 Women because of her contribution to Bangladeshi business. 

    ● She won the DHL-Daily Star Bangladesh Business Award under the “Outstanding Business Women of The Year.”

    Net worth

    As she is involved with many works, she can make a good amount from her business. In 2020 and 2021, her net worth significantly enriched, and now her net worth is a few million dollars.

    Unknown facts of Rubana Huq

    She is a beautiful woman, and her height is 5.6 feet which are more than the average Bangladeshi woman’s height. So we can say she is a tall lady. As to weight, she is 64 kg. Her eyes and hair color are black. Rubana Huq & Navidul Huq is the first ever mother and son duo elected as Directors in BGMEA. And she is also famous for her great speeches. Sometimes her speech/lecture became viral through social media. 

    Conclusion

    Rubana Huq is the name of the glory of Bangladesh. She became successful because of her hard work, merit, and making the right decision at the right time. She can even understand the psychology of people so that she can lead one of the most prominent organizations in Bangladesh without any rumor. 

    But, she couldn’t reach this position within a day. Her every baby step brings her here. If you want to be like her, start with baby steps without delaying any more.