The agreement was formalized through a signing ceremony at the bank’s headquarters in Dhaka. Md Shahjahan Kabir, Director General (Grade-1) of BRRI, and Md Monirul Alam, Senior Executive Vice President and Company Secretary of NCC Bank, inked the deal, as announced in a press release by the bank.

Expressing gratitude for the bank’s support, Kabir underscored the significance of backing agricultural research initiatives and commended NCC Bank for its cooperation in this endeavor. The research project aims to enhance fertilizer efficiency, with a projected 30 percent reduction in urea fertilizer usage in paddy fields. Kabir highlighted the environmental benefits of the Prilled Urea Applicator, emphasizing its role in mitigating Greenhouse Gas emissions by facilitating deep soil placement of urea fertilizer.

The program was graced by the presence of M Shamsul Arefin, Managing Director and CEO (current charge) of NCC Bank, who reiterated the bank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility through initiatives supporting marginal farmers nationwide. Arefin elaborated on the bank’s efforts, including offering loans at preferential rates and distributing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and saplings free of charge to 15,000 marginal farmers.

Also in attendance were Deputy Managing Directors Md Mahbub Alam, Mohd Rafat Ullah Khan, and Md Zakir Anam, along with Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President and CFO, Mohammed Anisur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President and CIO, and Syed Hasnain Mamun, Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources Division.

Among the distinguished guests from BRRI were Md Golam Kibria Bhuiyan, Principal Scientific Officer, Mohammah Kamruzzaman, Principal Investigator and Senior Scientific Officer, and Mizanur Rahman, Scientific Officer of the Farm Machinery and Post-Harvest Technology Division.