Anti-tobacco campaigning blurs CSR activities of BAT Bangladesh

Intensive campaigning against tobacco products has completely eclipsed the widespread corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities undertaken by the British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BAT Bangladesh). “People are reluctant to recognise our CSR activities. Such activities are having immense impacts on socio-economic upliftment of the underprivileged,” said Kamrul Hasan, senior official of the BAT Bangladesh, while talking to The Independent. He said the company is conducting robust CSR initiatives to maintain a necessary balance between sustainable environment and socio-economic development. “If we receive recognition for our CSR activities, we'll be encouraged to contribute more towards the sustainability of environment and socio-economic development,” he added. As part of its CSR programme, BAT Bangladesh is conducting various sustainable projects for rural communities, he said. “All our activities reflect our belief that success and responsibility always go together,” he added. In Bangladesh, the company is the pioneer in carrying out CSR activities, he claimed, adding that the company is conducting three CSR programmes—afforestation, supply of pure drinking water and providing solar power—to bring about societal as well as economic changes in the country. “We started our afforestation programme in 1980 with the forest department to conserve the forests and combat negative impacts of climate change,” he added. Hasan said the company has distributed around 80 million free saplings among the people of various districts, including Kushtia, Jessore, Rangpur, Jhenaidah and some hill tracts areas of the Chittagong region. He also said the company distributes around four million free saplings every year, of which 2.5 million saplings get distributed in Chittagong hill tract areas alone. “This is probably the largest private sector-driven afforestation programme in the country,” he a d d e d . Hasan, chief of the CSR committee of the company, said that BAT Bangladesh’s endeavours have received several awards both at the national and local government levels. To commemorate and acclaim the effort and success of the project, the company was awarded the prestigious Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award-2014 on Green Leadership by Enterprise Asia. BAT Bangladesh has also undertaken the responsibility to provide safe drinking water for rural communities in arsenic-prone areas, he added. This initiative is also aligned with the government’s aim to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs). Hasan said the company’s 50 water filtration plants in Manikganj, Satkhira, Meherpur, Kushtia,Jhenidah, Tangail, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Chuadanga districts provide approximately 255,000 litres of pure drinking water for 127,500 people every day. Besides, the company is also carrying out another CSR programme to provide power through distribution of solar panels in the hill tract areas of Chittagong. Through this project, around 7,000 rural people residing in the off-grid areas were brought under electricity coverage. Last year, BAT Bangladesh had formed a CSR committee with a view to conducting its various altruistic activities under the CSR activities in a more transparent and effective manner, Hasan a d d e d . The company’s board of directors has decided to do CSR reporting in its annual report, though there is no compulsory obligation for doing so, he said. “We’ve also decided to evaluate and audit our CSR activities by a third-party audit firm to receive a neutral and proper evaluation of our CSR activities,” he pointed out. “As a responsible organisation, we’ve certain duties towards the environment and community in which we operate. Our CSR activities are, therefore, designed to contribute to the social and environmental sustainability of the community. Our CSR activities solely focus on improving the lives of farmers and do not promote any of our products,” he affirmed. Kamrul Hasan was appointed as Independent Director of BAT Bangladesh in 2004, representing Government’s shares in the Company till July 2011. After that, he has been appointed as one of the Non-Executive Directors and Chairman of Board CSR Committee. He was awarded “University BLUE” by Chittagong University in 1974 for his remarkable achievements in study and extra-curricular activities. He was a national level Tennis player during 1972-1979. He is a former Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries & Live Stock and the Ministry of Defense. Prior to joining the BATB Board, he was Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance (Finance Division).

Source: Independent,09 july 2014