The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Industries Mahbub Jamil yesterday said that the Government would take initiative to formulate a policy for industries and business enterprises in the country to carry out welfare activities under Corporate Social Responsibility.

Addressing a workshop titled "`ISO 26000- the CSR Standard," under a project of British High Commission in Dhaka on "Business Case for CSR in Bangladesh" at BRAC Centre-INN in the capital, he said due to lack of proper education and trainings the social responsibility in the trade and industries sectors has not developed.

Expansion of our private sector trade and enterprises has been started from the 80s. The trend of our businessmen and entrepreneurs is to earn profit and profit and they have no commitment to the society, he said. The Special Assistant said a specific policy is required for all the national and the multi- national companies to take extensive CSR activities with a view to reduce the sufferings of the poor people of the country.

The function was also addressed, among others, by Acting British High Commissioner Duncan Norman, Chairman of Reed Consulting BD Ltd. Rodney Reed and Director UK Trade and Investment of British High Commission Kevin Ringham.

Director of CSR Asia of University of Hong Kong Dr Richard Welford and Director of BSTI Liaquat Ali made separate presentations on "ISO 26000-Guidance on Social Responsibility" and Implementing ISO 26000 in Bangladesh respectively.

Emphasising the need for implementation of CSR, Mahbub Jamil said implementation of CSR activities mean business enterprises are a part and parcel of the society and they got the responsibility towards society and environment. "Implementation of CSR is essential in the country like Bangladesh as half of the country's population is living below poverty line and facing devastating natural calamities such as flood and cyclone," he observed.

The Special Assistant said the CSR basically linked to the concept of sustainable development businesses need to integrate the economic, social and environmental impact in their operations.

Referring to the socio-economic scenario of the country, he said businessmen and philanthropists should pay their due attention to the CSR activities as their responsibility to the society.

Mahbub Jamil, however, said that many organisations were already engaged in social activities; more are actively considering.

"A lot of the sufferings of the poor population of this country can be alleviated through extensive CSR activities," he observed.

Duncan Norman said Bangladesh needs more business enterprises implementing CSR activities for making the country prosperous one and doing better business in the world markets.

"I encourage the government of Bangladesh to work with BSTI and other stakeholders of industry to ensure that Bangladesh fully understands the benefits of CSR and the implications of implementing ISO 26,000," he said.