BANKING is a hectic job with hardly any breathing space. That is why one needs to take a break from the hectic life style occasionally to enjoy some relief. With this end in view, the Bangladesh Money Market Dealers' Â Association (BAMDA) has been organising an annual picnic every year since its inception in 2003. As a member of treasury division of a bank, I attend the picnic, as I am required to maintain close contact with other banks and financial institutions. One of the crucial functions of treasury people is to maintain close links with dealers of other banks and financial institutions. Security trading deals are held among inter-bank treasury people where frequent correspondence between the treasury people is required. With a view to knowing each other and cementing the existing bond among the dealers, BAMDA has been organising the picnic every year since its inception in 2003. This year the picnic spot of BAMDA was Sopnopuri, Ashulia, Savar. Not only the treasury dealers and their back office colleagues but also their family members took part in the picnic that turned out to be a big get-together for treasury dealers.Â
Treasury personnel along with their family members gathered in front of Motijheel Biman Office at dawn to catch the picnic buses. Six buses were reserved for the picnic and many others attended the picnic with their individual cars. We boarded the bus at 8:00 am and the buses reached the picnic spot at 9:30 am. Reaching the picnic spot we refreshed ourselves and had our breakfast. In the meantime, we did not forget to exchange greetings with dealers of other banks who frequently contact us over phone. Many of us thought that the picnic spot will be small and as we got down our impression was totally wrong. It was a huge picnic spot.Â
After having breakfast, the organisers started off with various age-based events, like, age-based race, pillow passing, biscuit race and so on, where children of treasury officials, their family members and senior colleagues  participated. At the same time lunch was being prepared and it was served immediately after Jumma prayers. We had our lunch served under a canopy.Â
Prize giving ceremony and a raffle draw took place in the evening. The committee members of BAMDA along with executives of various banks were invited on the stage to give away prizes. After the prize giving ceremony, the much awaited raffle draws were held. Raffle draws sponsored by many banks offered lucrative prizes which were the main attraction of the picnic. Raffle draws were followed by addresses of the special guest, present and past presidents and secretaries of BAMDA and many other dignitaries, among them were GM of Sonali Bank Ltd., AMD of Jamuna Bank Ltd, DMD of NCC Bank Ltd, DMD of National Bank Ltd. Everybody pledged to make the BAMDA a dynamic organisation in the coming days. The picnic came to an end after the speech by BAMDA president.Â
Mohammad Zonaed Emran
Senior Executive Officer
Treasury DivisionÂ
The Farmers Bank Limited