Businesses through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) integration with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can make significant contribution to the society and have greater return from investments, said speakers at programme on Monday.
They also said more awareness among the businesses and better coordination among implementation partners can ensure proper utilisation of CSR funds for desired impacts on society.
These were discussed at the launching ceremony of the report on 'CSR in Bangladesh: Achieving Impact through CSR Action' organised by the CSR Centre at a hotel in the city.
Presided over by Chairman of the board of trustees of CSR Centre Farooq Sobhan, Social Welfare Secretary Zillar Rahman addressed the programme as the chief guest while Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Julia Niblett attended as the special guest.
United Trust executive director Brig Gen (retd) A J M Fazlur Rahman, UNICEF Bangladesh deputy representative Sheema Sen Gupta and CSR Centre CEO Shahamin S Zaman also spoke on the occasion.
Delivering his speech, the social welfare secretary said more awareness among the country's businesses was required to encourage them to contribute to the society through CSR.
It's a responsibility, not a law, he said. "Business people say that they pay around 43 per cent in taxes; so they can't contribute more, but actually it depends on their will."
Highlighting this year's CSR report, the CSR Centre CEO said the report focused specially on youth engagement, health issues, road safety and well-being of the society.
The report also emphasised how youth engagement could ensure the well-being of the society and strengthen sustainability in Bangladesh.
She said CSR Centre has been in operation for 11 years and publishes the annual report to disseminate how corporates are engaged in CSR projects in the country.
Speaking at the programme, United Trust executive director said any business group that makes profit has responsibility to the society. He mentioned that United Group implement its CSR projects mainly in rural areas where the factories of the group are situated.
The group allocated Tk 100 million in 2010 for CSR fund that stood at Tk 500 million in 2018, focusing specially on education, health, poverty alleviation, and other community development.
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