Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The profit after tax of British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company (BATBC) grew by about 39 percent in the first half of 2014 (January to June), said an office disclosure on Tuesday.

The company has reported profit after tax of BDT 2,872.27 million with EPS of BDT 47.87 in first half of 2014, (January to June’14) as against BDT 2,063.33 million and BDT 34.39 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Whereas profit after tax was BDT 1,630.44 million with EPS of BDT 27.17 for the period of 3 months (Apr’14 to June’14) ended on 30.06.2014 as against BDT 845.65 million and BDT 14.09 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

In 2013, BATBC recommended 520 percent final cash dividends in addition to 100 percent interim cash dividends. The company listed on the stock market in 1977 disbursed 500 percent cash dividends for 2012.

BBN/BB/ANS-22July14-8:30pm (BST)