Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, M.P. inaugurated today (20 November 2021) the National Committee Secretariat of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB)-The World Business Organization at Gulshan. In his inaugural address Mr. Munshi appreciated the role played by the business community in the overall development of the country and making Bangladesh today the fastest growing economy in the world.
He wished that the business community together with the public sector will continue to work to fulfill the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina in making Bangladesh a developed country by 2041. He congratulated ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, Members of the Executive Board as well as the Members Patrons in setting up a state-of-the-art Secretariat and expressed his hope that in future ICC Bangladesh will play same positive role for further development of the country.
The Minister also launched ICCB Business Directory which contains basic information about Bangladesh, information for trade and investment and FDI. The first Directory was published in 2008.
ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman in his welcome address said that ICCB started it’s journey at a small office located at premises of DCCI and with 17 members. Today, ICCB have 10 Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations Members under Organization Category (FBCCI, DCCI, MCCI, CCCI, FICCI, BAB, BIA, BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA) and 128 Members under Corporate Category (31 commercial banks, 7 non-banking financial institutions, 10 insurance companies, 5 law firms, 56 national companies and 19 Transnational companies).
Mr. Rahman mentioned that ICCB had so far organized seven International and Regional Conferences which were attended by Heads of State, Heads of Governments, Ministers, Heads of International Agencies, business leaders, professionals and experts from home and abroad. The latest Conference was held on 10-12 December 2019. The Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Mr. Abdul Hamid inaugurated the Conference, he noted.
Mahbubur Rahman acknowledged ICCB Founding Vice President Late Latifur Rahman, A. K. Azad, Kutubuddin Ahmed, Anwar ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Tapan Chowdhury. A.S.M. Quasem and Md. Fazlul Haque played the key role in mobilizing the resources for buying new office premises.
ICCB Vice President A.K. Azad in his vote of thanks recalled the role played by founding ICCB Vice President Latifur Raman for his guidance and continuous support to ICC Bangladesh in carrying out his various activities since the National Secretariat was set up in 1994. He thanked the Commerce Minister for inaugurating the new Secretariat and for his assurance in extending to full support of his Ministry to the business community. He also thanked the Members and Patrons for attending the inaugural ceremony.
The inaugural ceremony among others were attended by Apex Group Chairman Syed Manzur Elahi, Former Foreign Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, M.P.; Pubali Bank Chairman Mr. Monzurur Rahman; IPDC Chairman Mr. Md. Abdul Karim; Mr. Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Director, A.K. Khan & Company Ltd,; ICCB Executive Board Members : Mr. Abdul Hai Sarker; Mr. A. S. M. Quasem; Mr. Aftab ul Islam; Mr. Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez); Mr. Faruque Hassan; Mr. Kutubuddin Ahmed; Mr. Mahbubul Alam; Mr. Md. Fazlul Hoque; Mir Nasir Hossain; Mr. Mohammad Hatem; Ms. Simeen Rahman; Tapan Chowdhury and M.D/ CEOs of Commercial Banks, National and Multinational Companies.
