The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday urged the commercial banks to contribute in the improvement of educational institutions and the teachers alongside their ongoing stipend programme for the poor but meritorious students.

"There is no alternative to education… it needs decentralisation," he said a stipend distribution ceremony of Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited at the auditorium of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IE,B). The Governor said many schools and colleges in rural areas were suffering from fund crisis.

"It's a good investment beyond traditional banking to help develop educated citizens. It's not possible for the government alone," the central bank Governor added reminding the banks of their corporate social responsibility.

In the recent days some of the financial institutions came forward and engaged themselves in different charitable activities responding to their corporate social responsibilities.

Shahjalal Bank distributed stipends among 111 poor and meritorious students, who passed SSC and HSC examinations in 2006, to carry out their educational expenses at their respective next levels of academic career.

Education secretary Mohammed Momtazul Islam, the bank's founding chairman Sajjatuz Zumma, chairman Akkas Uddin Molla, director Anwar Hossain Khan and Mohammed Solayman, managing director Muhammed Ali and stipend recipient Mishkatul Momtaz of Holy Cross College also addressed on the occasion.