Let\\\'s inculcate individual social responsibility

In our times, we repetitively hear the term 'CSR' or Corporate Social Responsibility. The CSR engagement in Bangladesh has been expanding considerably leading to socio-economic development. This contribution in the form of CSR has been recognised in both national and international arena. However, for holistic progress and development we can also concentrate on Individual Social Responsibility or ISR. ISR can be characterised as the individual commitment that we need to accomplish for the betterment of the society. The society has given us infinite privileges and supports for our own development. Today many of us are in key positions in national, international, private or public sectors. We are getting benefits enormously from the society. So, there is no scope to undermine the pertinent role the society plays for our development and professional progress.
Now, we need to evoke these supports for the disadvantaged from our respective positions. This may encourage us to do some things for the community. For instance, banks and other financial institutions in Bangladesh are providing scholarships to the poor but meritorious students in various education levels like higher secondary, tertiary education, even for PhD researchers. The same activities can be done through individual initiatives providing both financial and non-financial supports to students coming from the very poor and underprivileged segment of the society.
We can establish a small foundation in commemoration of our parents or closed relatives and disburse funds to the senior helpless citizens, needy people who cannot ask for help. Even we can maintain Waqf deposit account with banks and use  the profits generated from the principal amount. Above all, we must extend our hands towards our relatives who are in real financial need. We must not forget to keep close and deep relations with our relatives in difficulties. We should communicate with them, visit them at their houses and also help them, particularly during bad times. We should help when they are hospitalised, or even in physically challenged conditions.
History teaches us that the greatest people in this universe have brought societal impact-oriented changes, in most cases through their individual initiatives with commitment towards the society. In fact, they worked for the greater community. As such, we can start our journey initially from our own community from where we grow up and get nourished.
We need to inculcate the belief that the society can move fast with our individual small contribution and involvement. Many types of institutions in Bangladesh are fulfilling their social responsibility mostly in the form of profit redistribution to stakeholders. But the social progress of a poor country like Bangladesh can be accelerated with individual commitment and involvement along with corporate CSR engagement.
The writer is a banker. smaacca@gmail.com