Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman seen at a donation giving function of First Security Islamic Bank Ltd (FSIBL) at a hotel in Dhaka Tuesday.

The banks spent a total of Tk 2.19 billion in 2011 under their corporate social responsibility works, growing 5 times over the past four years, said Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman.

During the current year, the banks have so far spent a praiseworthy amount of over Tk 1 billion on the same purpose, the governor said.

He was addressing a donation giving ceremony of First Security Islamic Bank Ltd (FSIBL) to various philanthropic and social service activities Tuesday at a city hotel.

Managing Director of FSIBL, AMM Zakaria presided over the function also attended by Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank SK Sur Chowdhury, Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin MP, Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Sagufta Yeasmin MP, Shamsul Haque MP and Mirza Azam MP.

Bangladesh Bank pays special attention to the banks’ corporate social responsibility programmes as such initiatives can help the disadvantaged group come out of poverty, said the central bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman.

He informed that all the banks conduct CSR activities and of them, 20 banks have established separate trust or foundation as CSR has become an integral part of business enterprises globally.

Governor also said reaching banking service and providing credit facility to the hard core poor have already cast a very good impact on the national economy, which even has been reflected in the report of the world famous credit rating organisation Moody’s.

In last four years, the central bank has focused on neglected but productive sectors like agriculture and SMEs, he said.

FSIBL Managing Director said: “The banks’ goal has not limited to only profit-making. They are now conducting huge CSR programmes.”

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/19th-Dec-12