Death Marketing -2

BATB water plant on MP’s residence

In the name of performing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) is planting pure drinking water facilities under its ‘Probaho’ project at the dwelling places of heavy weight policy makers to have some business facilities, create and promote a positive image for the company. They are setting up the pure drinking water facility in arsenic prone areas in the guise of providing water facilities to the disadvantaged populations (!) under their ‘Probaho’ project. On September 7, 2014, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, MP – Kushtia 3 and Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, inaugurated a water plant before his residence amid a colourful programme on PTI Road in Kushtia district which belongs to ‘Probaho’ project. BATB high officials and local elites also participated at the programme. To be noted that though there is law to limit CSR activities by the tobacco companies, the laws are simply being ignored. Thus, the tobacco companies are marketing their toxic products deceitfully, expanding their market share and gaining profit by selling death. To protect the public health, such activities by the tobacco companies should be brought under control.