Corporate social responsibility

With the advent of winter, the northern region of Bangladesh suffers under its spell. The poor, old persons and babies become the victims of the biting cold there. Due to insufficient warm clothes, the sufferings of the poor know no bound. Owing to the cold waves, the poor people suffer from various diseases. It is, of course, praiseworthy that the country's private banks are scaling up healthcare services for the ultra-poor as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Meanwhile, several initiatives have been undertaken to set up health facilities to make sure the poor have access to medicare services of international standard. It is reported that Mercantile Bank Ltd., planned to build a large-size hospital in the city's Uttara area to provide better healthcare services to patients. They also planned to build charitable hospitals in every district to offer quality healthcare to the poor. Social Islami Bank Ltd., is also reportedly in the process of providing eye care treatment to the poor, free of cost through nationwide camps. Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd., has also stepped up its efforts to increase healthcare facilities in the country, on a larger scale than before. The bank is already running a good number of community hospitals and clinics. Mutual Trust Bank Ltd., every year supports different hospitals, especially during the outbreak of epidemic diseases. No doubt, all the plans and programes of the banks are for the well-being of the countrymen. But the bank management, of course, need to assess the needs of the time and to design their CSR activities on a short-, middle- and long-term basis. Now serving the poor with warm clothes, blankets etc., would be the short-term project, because we believe, 'prevention is better than cure'. Without making further delays' all banks may come forward with their CSR activities, in the form of distributing clothes, to help mitigate the sufferings of the poor, especially in the northern region. Ibnat Islam Etu & Ibsan Islam Edi Kalabagan, Dhaka-1205 Email: saiful_ibsan@yahoo.com