The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday requested the big corporate houses to come forward with their support to health and education programmes for the poor and empowerment of women.

"Banks have already extended their support for this two sectors," he told a function at the CIRDAP auditorium, and called upon the corporate houses to widen their social support for income generation for the poor.

Bankers' Forum, a welfare-oriented organisation, organised the function to distribute 'corporate social responsibility award' for the years 2006 and 2007 among six organisations for their contribution to social welfare.

The Dhaka Bank, Islamia Eye Hospital and Standard Chartered Bank have got this award for the year 2006, while Dutch-Bangla Bank, Ahsania Mission and Pubali Bank for 2007.

Forum president MA Khaleque chaired the function.

Dr Salehuddin called upon the non-banking financial institutions to engage themselves in social welfare activities for the poor.

"Corporate social responsibility should be carried out in a manner so that the poor people can become self-reliant by involving them in economic activities," he said.

There is a lot of scope for such support in the northern region of the country, he added.

The Bangladesh Bank governor, however, said that only some grants would not help improve the lot of the poor.