BAT Bangladesh wins AREA Award

The British American Tobacco (BAT) Bangladesh has received yet another international accolade, the Asia Responsible Enterprise Award 2018 (AREA), says a press release.

The company received the award for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative Deepto in the Green Leadership category.

The award was handed over at the International CSR Summit 2018 held in Manila, Philippines recently.

Mubina Asaf, Head of Legal & External Affairs, BAT Bangladesh, received the award on behalf of the company.

Initiated in 2011, Deepto is a simple and affordable approach to utilisation of renewable energy to bring electricity in the off-grid areas in the hill tract.

Until now, 2,064 solar home systems have been installed covering 23 villages of Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts to provide electricity to more than 12,000 people.

Deepto has changed the social and economic condition of the beneficiaries and has improved their livelihood significantly.

Mubina Asaf said, "It is a moment of great honor for BAT Bangladesh."

"We have been a pioneer in driving CSR initiatives in Bangladesh over four decades, since 1980," she said.

"We have three flagship CSR programmes that are aligned with nine out of 17 UN SDGs (sustainable development goals) and the National Goals of Bangladesh," she added.

"We will continue our endeavour to give world class CSR experience to our communities in Bangladesh".

Ms. Asaf was one of the speakers at the panel discussion on "Creating a Climate Resilient Business: Where Will We End" held during the Summit.

Enterprise Asia, the awarding body, is a non-governmental organisation working on creating an Asia which is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality.

This is the third consecutive recognition to BAT Bangladesh by Enterprise Asia for the impactful contribution through CSR initiatives.