Bangladesh moving ahead

Uday Hakim, from Kathmandu: Slow and enjoyable chilly wind was blowing over the Kathmandu valley surrounded by mountains. The numbers of the vehicles on the roads were less. This atmosphere in Kathmandu, just before the winter, is very pleasant. The capital of Nepal becomes more beautiful at the time of nightfall.  

We went to New Baneshwor Road just after the sunset. It’s only 3-minute walking distance from the five star hotel Everest. New Baneshwor is the widest street in Kathmandu. The office of Walton stands at the VIP zone of the north side of the road. Rida Incorporated Pvt. Ltd is the prime distributor of Walton here.

Walton products are supplied across the country from this office. The well decorated two storied building houses the office and display center of Walton. The well organized corporate office satisfies the eyes and minds of visitors.

Officials of Rida Incorporated Pvt. Ltd welcomed us at the entrance with flowers. Among them were the owner of the company Sarfaraz Ansari and his wife, marketing director Kumar Kaushal was also there. We, who went from Dhaka, are film star Ilias Kanchan, Brand Ambassador of Walton, Nazrul Islam Sarker, Executive Director to Foreign Trade Monitoring Department of Walton, Humayun Kabir, Executive Director of PR and Media Department and Deputy Director Firoz Alam, Rakibul Islam, Deputy Director to International Marketing Department of Walton and Toufiqur Rahman, Walton’s Country Director in Nepal.  

The broad display center, office and mini conference room are in the first floor. We were introduced with the staffs of Rida Incorporated Pvt. Ltd on the open space at the wide display center. Then we had a brief view exchanging session at the conference room where we discussed on the strategy and procedures of expanding the market of Walton products in Nepal. Topics, like ways of reaching to the remote part of Nepal with Walton products like Bangladesh, strategic market expanding and ensuring best after sales services were also in our agenda. Kumar Kaushal, during the meeting, opined that the Nepali people prefer buying Walton products for affordable prices and high standard.

Though the marketing of Walton products in Nepal began a year ago, yet no formal brand launching was held. Then the marketing of Walton products was mainly capital based. But within few months, dealers were appointed in all 75 districts of Nepal. New show-rooms are being set up for which a nationwide distribution launching programme has been arranged. The grand launching programme will be held on September 19 (Friday) at the ball-room of Hotel Everest, the top inn in Nepal. Special guests including the Finance Minister of Nepal will be present the function.

After getting out of Rida Incorporated Pvt. Ltd office, we went to Thamel. Most of the residences of this area are Bangladeshis. There are some Bengali hotels too. I remembered the Baneshwor tour of Rajshahi while passing away the New Baneshwor Road. I went there few days ago. There is a large hat (market) and the place is famous for mangoes.

At night, I was recalling the just passed beautiful afternoon in Kathmandu. There were no redundancies of cloud or sunbeams. Whenever I came here earlier, always experienced a hot sun. This time I witnessed the playfulness of sun and clouds.  

However, there was another experience at the airport. I never witnessed so much crowds at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Locals also said so. It was because four international flights landed at a time, two from Delhi, one from Bagdogra of India and the other from Dhaka, Bangladesh. There was hardly any place for taking steps. Long queue was in front of Visa counter, turmoil with the luggage was too. It took two hours to get out of the Airport with luggage.  

However, the experience at Dhaka was totally different. We got boarding passes at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport without any hassle. I got fascinated. Boarding passes of the passengers of Economy Class were given at the Business Class desk. I got my seat beside the window. All air staffs were well mannered and they were very cordial too. A Kathmandu bound flight was canceled on the previous day. I feared a delay. But nothing bad happened there rather the flight took off 5 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.  

These all were the signs of positive Bangladesh. Let my sweet country move ahead in all other fields like this. We all wholeheartedly pray for that.

risingbd/Sept 18, 2014/Uday/Augustin Sujan