Prime Bank PLC and the British Council in Bangladesh have entered into a strategic partnership to expand learning, professional development and employee empowerment while offering selected benefits to customers ranging from young learners to adults, the bank said in a press release.
The agreement, signed recently at Prime Bank’s corporate office in Dhaka, forms part of the bank’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee initiative to provide employees with equitable access to learning, growth and development opportunities. The partnership is intended to support a more inclusive, empowered and future-ready workplace.
Under the arrangement, Prime Bank employees will gain exclusive access to the British Council’s internationally recognised learning solutions, including specially designed programmes covering communication, leadership, workplace effectiveness and professional skills development.
Prime Bank customers, including members of Women Banking, Neera and Student Banking, will also receive exclusive offers on selected British Council services. The initiative extends the bank’s employee-development programme beyond its workforce to customers.
The bank said investment in its employees would help them develop the skills, confidence and global exposure needed to make a greater impact in their professional responsibilities and personal lives.
Prime Bank Chief Executive Officer Faisal Rahman said empowering people was among the most meaningful investments the bank could make.
“Through our Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, we are committed to creating an environment where every individual has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” Rahman said.
He said the partnership would give employees access to globally recognised learning opportunities, strengthen their capabilities and help them make a greater impact inside and outside the workplace.
“We are equally delighted to extend these valuable opportunities to our customers as part of our promise to create meaningful value beyond banking,” he added.
Zunayed Ahmed, Head of Market–Bangladesh, English and Exams at the British Council, said the organisation had spent more than 70 years developing English-language skills and access to global opportunities in Bangladesh.
“This partnership adds Prime Bank’s financial support to that offer, while extending our English and leadership training into their workplace,” Ahmed said.
He described Prime Bank as a progressive partner and said the alliance represented the first of several planned initiatives intended to support meaningful capacity building.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Bank Chief Executive Officer Faisal Rahman; Additional Managing Director M Nazeem A Choudhury; Senior Executive Vice-President and Head of Diversity and Inclusion Shaila Abedin; and members of the bank’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
The British Council was represented by members of its English and Examinations team, including Chief Revenue Officer Robin Clark; Head of Market–Bangladesh Zunayed Ahmed; Director of Business Development Tahnee Yeasmin; and Head of Business Development–Business and Education Shehrin Shibly. Senior officials from both organisations also attended.
The organisations said the collaboration reflected their shared commitment to lifelong learning, inclusive growth and continuous professional development. Prime Bank said the alliance would strengthen its people-first culture through investment in knowledge, capability development and equal opportunities for employees, customers and the communities it serves.
