The dividend was approved at the 23rd annual general meeting (AGM) of the bank held yesterday in Dhaka, says a press release.

Kazi Harun-ar-Rashed, chairman of the bank, presided over the AGM, which was informed that the bank earned net profit of Tk 216.24 crore as on December 31, 2005 against Tk 184.30 crore in 2004 showing a growth rate of 17.33 per cent.

Deposit of the bank increased to Tk 10,777.94 crore as on December 31, 2005 from Tk 8,784.10 crore in the previous year marking a growth of 22.70 per cent while investment of the bank stood at Tk 9,364.42 crore as on December 31, 2005 against previous year's Tk 7,585.86 crore posting a growth rate of 23.44 per cent.

The bank handled foreign exchange business to the tune of Tk 14,764.20 crore as on December 31, 2005 against Tk 11,262.40 crore in 2004 with a growth rate of 31.09 per cent.