Two pioneers in sustainable development received Saturday the SEBL-FE-PRI Green Trust Award for their outstanding contribution to protecting the environment through pursuing the course of sustainable development at this time of widespread pollution.
Chittagong Waste Treatment Plants Ltd and Sustainable Energy for Development programme of GIZ Bangladesh were given the award at a function in a city hotel.
Chittagong Waste Treatment Plants Ltd won the award in the category of pioneer in climate leadership in business and operation while Sustainable Energy for Development Programme of GIZ Bangladesh in the category of community awareness.
Alhaj Dalil Uddin Ahmed on behalf of Chittagong Waste Treatment Plants Ltd while David Hancock for the Sustainable Energy for Development programme of GIZ Bangladesh received the award from Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Dr. Atiur Rahman.
The Chittagong company set up the first and largest Central Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) with a capacity of 45,000 tonnes or 45.0 million litres per day.
It is providing safety to environment and 1.0 million people through the improvement, development and pollution-free working environment.
The firm also plays a vital role in protecting the Bay of Bengal from being polluted.
Under the Sustainable Energy for Development programme, GIZ Bangladesh has installed 105 solar water pumps in the coastal areas since 2010 and supplies 1.8 million litres of pure drinking water to 0.8 million beneficiaries.
Southeast Bank Ltd (SEBL) created the trust in association with the Financial Express (FE) and Policy Research Institute (PRI) introduced the SEBL-FE-PRI Green Award Trust as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to create awareness about green retention and green business.
The Green Award Trust consists of some distinguished personalities of the country, headed by Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin as Chairman. He moderated the award-giving ceremony at a city hotel.
Speaking as chief guest, Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman praised the SEBL, FE and PRI for introducing green award for creating awareness for preservation of the environment for the posterity.
"We at the BB have extended early our supporting hand for such transformation, with our policy initiatives promoting financing of new green options in output techniques and process in our economic activities," he said.
He said fundraising in capital markets for green initiatives through issuance of green bonds has gained traction in advanced markets.
"I would love to see the beginning of such attempts on our capital market and would be glad to be of any assistance as we can extend," he told the function.
The central bank governor also informed that they are going to set a benchmark for the commercial banks from next year to disburse a certain percentage of their total loan disbursement for green activities.
He also urged other financial institutions to emulate and contribute to the reduction of effects of climate change on environment.
Dr. Zaidi Sattar, Chairman of the Policy Research Institute, laid emphasis on collective and immediate initiative from individuals and financial institutions to save the environment.
"Otherwise, next generation will abandon us. Dhaka is one of the worst liveable cities of the world. Let's make something to make Dhaka liveable," he said.
AHM Moazzem Hossain, Editor of the Financial Express, said the concept of green banking should not be only in statement-it must be practised in business and daily life by all in society.
"If we can address the environmental risk properly, we can achieve sustainable growth for the country," he said.
He also called upon the awardees to contribute more towards protecting the environment in the coming days, which will encourage many other individuals and institutions to come up in respect to the issue of risk mitigation.
Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairman of the SEBL-FE-PRI Green Award Trust, said the initiative would continue in future to inspire the individuals and organisations to engage actively in saving the environment and pursue sustainable development course.
He said overcoming the nexus of 3 Ps - Poverty, Population and Pollution - is very important for sustainable development.
"Sustainable development is a development process where current prosperity does not in any way jeopardise future prosperity," he added.
Chairman of SEBL Alamgir Kabir, FCA, Managing Director of the SEBL Shahid Hossain and Member- Secretary of the SEBL-FE-PRI Green Award Trust Professor Ayesha Shireen Rahman were among others who spoke on the occasion.
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