Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman Saturday made a call to the country's banking and non-banking financial institutions to initiate more corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to help improve the lifestyle of underprivileged people of Chars (low lying areas).
He made the call while speaking at a conference in a city hotel.
Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP), Maxwell Stamp, AusAid, UKAid jointly organised the conference titled 'Engaging with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activity'.
Speaking as the chief guest, the central bank governor said the country's financial institutions have taken a lot of CSR programmes in the recent times, but Chars people have been left out in the programmes.
"We directed them to prioritise Chars people during formulating their CSR programmes in the future," he said.
"It's now a demand of time to include underprivileged population segment of chars areas in Bangladesh with the ongoing CSR initiatives," BB Governor Dr. Rahman said.
Under the existing CSR guidelines, the banks and NBFIs are allowed to expend around 30 per cent and 20 per cent of total CSR funds to facilitate education and healthcare supports respectively.
Education and job focused vocational training being crucial in widening advancement opportunities for the underprivileged population segments, around 30 per cent of total CSR expenditure should be for scholarships/stipends for students from low income family in reputed academic and vocational training institutions, according to the guidelines.
Mentioning different initiatives, taken by the central bank, the governor said he wants to see that the chars areas will be Green Spot of Bangladesh.
He said lack of money is not a problem in improving the livelihoods of Chars people, what lacks here is coordinated approach, partnerships and trust.
Among others, Executive Director of the BB Mohammad Naushad Ali Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.
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