Speech

I picked this title and modified it from a patriotic song, used to be sung by soldiers of the then USSR during after dinner march. 40 of us were trained as flight cadets from 1973 to 1975 by Soviet Air Force, the first batch of GD (P) from Bangladesh Air Force. We also sang patriotic songs, popular during the war of liberation in 1971. I tried to import anything good I found to introduce in our day to day life, fewer with success. One of the primary reasons for not accepting anything good is because people generally are rigid and repulsive in nature, especially when the benefit is not felt with immediate results, more because we live in a power based society then conscious based.

I started with 07 branches, 84 employees and 01 crore deposits in 2002, after 07 years and 06 months we are a team of 1,100 with 67 branches and 170.00 crore deposits. That’s about 01 branch in every 45 days and 01 employment in every 45 hours. Salaries were raised in every fiscal since 2002-03 by 30% to 50%, now a tea boy gets Taka 7,000.00. Does it make any sense? Interestingly, it does not make to the people at the hierarchy of the society, specifically the regulatory body.

The magic behind this growth lies with honesty of micro-traders, honesty of purpose, good governance, transparency and implementation of Islamic Sha”ria Banking.

Last year, we have opened 15 branches and this year we plan for 09 more. Keeping the deposits rate as before, we plan to introduce different saving schemes and lower our lending rate, despite increase in house rent, price of essential commodities in some cases by 50% thus reduce the spread.

Certain pending matters like membership of clearing house under Bangladesh Bank are still under pursuance. Print and electronic media with few exceptions are still suffering from negatopghobia, relentlessly trying to harm the progress. We have sued one such journalist from electronic media, will pursue in the court of law for an exemplary punishment, so that others take lesson that. We are gradually stepping into agro-based sector. We will continue to lower our lending rate thus reduce the burden further on the micro – traders/farmers.

Abu Zafar Chowdhury,

GP. Capt. (Rtd.)

Chairman

The Dhaka Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd.

Short Profile

Short Profile:

Father’s Name: Late Ali Ahmmad Chowdhury

Mother’s Name: Late Shamsun Nahar

Date of Birth: 08-02-1953

Date of Commission: 12-7-1975

Present Address: House-15/B, Road-2, Cantonment Residential Area,Dhaka.

Date of retirement: 20-2-2000

Service Record

Service Record:

• Fought in the war of liberation in No 1 sector under, the then Maj Ziaur Rahman as Sector Commander
• Joined BAF in 1972 in the first GD(Pilot) batch
• Successfully completed 3 years of training in, the then, USSR with all 'A's in 38 subjects incl Diploma as Interpreter in Russian-English languages
• Flew in CHTas Operational Helicopter pilot in counter insurgency operation till 1980
• First helicopter pilot to top and get Mofiz Trophy in the Flying Instructors' Course
• Flew in BAF Academy as Flying Instructor from 1980-1991 with small break in between,when worked as staff officer in Air Hqs
• First helicopter pilot to be deputed to Iraqi Air Force to train future fighter pilot from 1983-1985
• Received first inter squadron Khademul Bashar flight safety trophy in 1987 and in the same year, I was First pilot in B.A.F to be cleared on instrument flying as examiner with MASTER GREEN rating.
• Attended Helicopter Gunship Course in Hawaii, Pressure Chamber Course in Turkey, Pakistan.
• Attended Junior Commanders' Course in India
• Detailed as test pilot to carry out acceptance flight of Jet a/c in France
• Qualified as instructor in Jungle and Sea Survival Courses
• Deputed to CAAB as director Zia International Airport from 1995-1997
• Qualified to hold Commercial/Air Transport Pilots' Licenses from Civil Aviation Authority Of Bangladesh (CAAB)
• Till date holds highest flying and instructional hours(7 stars) in BAF with out any attributable incident
• Commanded BAF Contingent, in joint services guard of honour from 1976-1980, in victory/independence day parade from 1987-1994(5 times)
• Life member of Flying Club, Golf Club, RAOWA Club.
• Member of Rotary Club of Dhaka New City, awarded with Paul Harris Award.
• Involved in various social activities in the village of P.S. Fatick Chari, Chittagong.
• Married have 1 Son, Now studying in Canada.
• Wife is the Managing Director.
• Self is the Chairman (Took charge of the bank with 7 Branches, established 35 posh and profitable branches in my management period around Bangladesh Employed more than seven hundred employees by creating employment.