Standard Chartered Bank and UNAIDS Bangladesh have recently signed an agreement to form 'Bangladesh Business Coalition on AIDS' (BBCA) with a view to contributing to the national response to AIDS in the country. Shah Masud Imam, Regional Head, Corporate Affairs, South Asia of Standard Chartered Bank and Dan Odallo, Line Director, National AIDS/STI Progamme and UNAIDS Country Coordinator, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations in the city recently. The coalition believes that Bangladesh can successfully contain the AIDS epidemic; it aspires to contribute by encouraging key business sectors and partners to provide resources, skills and an environment for an effective response to AIDS within the business institutions. In his welcome speech, Dan Odallo said, "This Business Coalition on AIDS is the first of its kind in Bangladesh, and through this partnership we aim to generate broader engagement from the business community to fight this epidemic." In his speech, Osman Morad, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, "Fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a commercial imperative for business, including Standard Chartered. Health and well being of our people and customers is vital for sustainable economic growth. We pledged to the Clinton Global Initiative to educate one million people on HIV/AIDS globally." Shah Masud Imam added, "Standard Chartered is one of the banking industry's leaders in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. We are grateful to UNAIDS Bangladesh for providing us with this opportunity to assume the role of leading Bangladesh Business Coalition on AIDS." Ms. Marina Mahathir, daughter of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia was also present at the signing ceremony as special guest. She is one of the most active member of UNAIDS's Asia Pacific Leadership Forum and an advocate of high-level advocacy on HIV and AIDS in Asian countries. Ms. Sarwat Ahmad, Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs of Standard Chartered Bank, Ms. Lazeena Muna-McQuay, Ph.D. Social Mobilisation and Partnerships Advisor. APLF Sub-regional Coordinator, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, Mohammed Ali Bhuiyan was also present at the signing ceremony among other senior officials from both the organisations.