bat bangladesh - Our corporate social responsibility
bat bangladesh - Our corporate social responsibility
Responsibility is a way of life for us. This is because we believe in the success that has come to us as a result of responsible business operations.
All our activities reflect our belief that ‘Success and Responsibility Go Together’. Therefore, we have in place very robust CSR initiatives. Through such endeavours of ours, we aim to achieve the necessary balance of sustainable environmental, social and economic development.
Afforestation
We started our afforestation programme when we joined hands with the Forest Department in 1980 to conserve the forests and combat the negative impacts of climate change. Till now, we have contributed around 67.5 million saplings throughout Bangladesh. This probably makes our imitative the largest private sector driven afforestation programme in the country. Our endeavours have received several awards both at the National and Local Government levels. We will distribute four million saplings in 2011.
Safe drinking water: ‘Probaho’
For millions of people in Bangladesh, the only available drinking water is laced with arsenic and therefore extremely hazardous to health. Having recognised the gravity of the issue, we have stepped forward with the ‘Probaho’, Bangla for ‘flow’, project. Through Probaho, we aim to provide rural communities with safe drinking water. This initiative is also aligned with the Government’s aim to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs). Using Government approved community based water filtration technology, our 18 water filtration plants in Manikganj, Satkhira, Meherpur, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Tangail, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Chuadanga districts provide approximately 95,000 litres of pure drinking water for 47,000 people every day.
Sustainable agriculture
Our supply chain starts with the hard work of around 34,000 registered farmers within the village community. Therefore, we try our best to ensure that our sources are sustainable and responsible. We aim to do this by proactively setting high standards for agricultural practices. Our initiatives include Green Manuring with Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)- an effective approach in enriching soil health and fertility. Dhaincha is also promoted as alternate fuel in leaf growing areas. Moreover, we have introduced Integrated Pest Management Clubs and Farmer Field Schools in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Extension to educate our farmers about the adoption of Good Agriculture Practices.