NCC Bank PLC has launched "NCC China Connect", a specialised China Desk, to provide integrated banking services to Chinese businesses and investors in Bangladesh and support bilateral trade and investment.
The desk was inaugurated on 14 October at the "China National Day Celebration 2026" in the Grand Ballroom of Radisson Blu Hotel, Dhaka, according to the press release.
The Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI), in collaboration with NCC Bank, organised the event to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The desk was formally inaugurated through a cake-cutting ceremony.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam MP attended as chief guest, while Dr Liu Yuyin, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, attended as special guest.
In her remarks, Shama Obaed Islam highlighted the importance of Bangladesh–China relations in expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation.
She said initiatives such as NCC Bank's China Desk would facilitate business activities and further strengthen bilateral economic relations.
Dr Liu Yuyin welcomed the launch of a specialised banking platform for Chinese businesses in Bangladesh. He said the desk could help expand bilateral trade and investment, improve business connectivity and strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries.
Mohammed Nurun Newaz Salim, chairman of NCC Bank, said the initiative reflected the bank's commitment to supporting Chinese businesses and expanding bilateral trade and investment.
He said he hoped NCC China Connect would create new business opportunities and strengthen economic cooperation.
M Shamsul Arefin, managing director of NCC Bank, said, "China is Bangladesh's largest trading partner and one of the most important sources of investment. Through 'NCC China Connect', we want to provide integrated and specialised banking services to Chinese business enterprises, which will accelerate trade, investment and sustainable growth between the two countries."
He said the desk would operate under the bank's Multinational Corporate Banking Division and serve as a central point of contact for Chinese entrepreneurs.
Services will include Mandarin-language support, trade finance, working capital, project financing, foreign exchange transactions, bank guarantees, cash management and digital banking.
"Using correspondent banking relationships with 30 banks in China and a network of nearly 400 correspondent banks worldwide, we are committed to facilitating and expediting cross-border foreign trade transaction settlement with China. In addition, we are also working to create opportunities for Chinese trade transaction settlement in the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB)," he added.
NCC Bank Vice-Chairman Abdus Salam; Amjadul Ferdous Chowdhury, director and former chairman; Khairul Alam Chaklader, director and chairman of the executive committee; directors Md Moinuddin and Mohammed Sazzad Un Newaz; and Tanzina Ali, director and former vice-chairman attended the event.
Directors Syed Asif Nizamuddin, Shamima Newaz, Morshedul Alam Chaklader and Nahid Banu; independent director Meer Sajed-Ul-Basher, FCA; and independent director and chairman of the audit committee Md Amirul Islam, FCS, FCA, also attended.
Other attendees included M Shamsul Arefin; additional managing directors M Khurshed Alam, Md Zakir Anam and Mohammed Jamal Uddin Mazumder; and deputy managing directors Mohammed Mizanur Rahman and Md Habibur Rahman.
BCCCI members, senior bank officials and leaders of Chinese businesses in Bangladesh were also present.