Asiatic clarifies

In response to bdnews24.com report – “Noor ‘made money’ from record bid” – Asiatic 360 Chairman Aly Zaker sent the following statement on  Monday:

Date: March 31, 2014

Toufique Imrose Khalidi

Editor-in-Chief

BDNEWS24.COM

Subject: Request to share justification based on news published

Dear Mr. Khalidi,

It has come to our attention that the news captioned “Noor ‘made money’ from record bid” has been published in your esteemed news portal recently. We want to clarify our position in regard to the news published.

Mr. Asaduzzaman Noor has resigned from the post of Vice Chairman, Asiatic 360 and any relevant posts of its subsidiaries Asiatic Marketing Communications Ltd, Asiatic Talkingpoint Communications Ltd, Maxus, Asiatic Mindshare, MEC, Forethought PR Ltd, Radio Shadhin, Ddhoni Chitra Ltd, Nayantara Communications, Asiatic Events and Marketing Communications Ltd, Moitree Printers Ltd and MRC Mode Ltd before he assumed the office of Minister on 11th January, 2014. Since the date mentioned above, he has held no managerial post within the group and its subsidiaries nor has he been remunerated. The mention in the websites of the subsidiary companies of his still holding managerial posts was a lapse of updating information within due time.

Asiatic Events and Marketing Communications Ltd along with other agencies were called in a pitch by the 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army to present their ideas to support the execution of the national event “Lakho Konthe Shonar Bangla.” Based on the presentation, experience and expertise, the Asiatic Events and Marketing Communications Ltd was selected by the 9th Infantry Division. Subsequently, subsidiaries of the Asiatic 360 were invited by Armed Forces Division and the 9th Infantry Division to support in the event execution, creative and media relations. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh Government did not have any part in the selection process.

Thus based on the clarification provided above, we would request you to upload our standpoint on the lingering issue in a position of similar importance in both English and Bangla version and oblige us thereby.

Sincerely,

Aly Zaker

Chairman

Asiatic 360