Death Marketing-1

Snub BATB for selling deaths

Marking its 100 years, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has awarded 20 individuals and organizations, and tobacco giant British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has bagged a prize in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category. BATB provides pure drinking water facilities, installed solar-power plants and runs tree plantation activities, and the MCCI prize issue was highlighted on some local media. But in reality, BATB undertakes such social activities only for profit generation. The pure water plant – that was installed by BATB, is inaccessible for the commoners, and is set on a spots where influential government officials and individuals are available like DC office premises or beside the residence of influential policy maker to create a positive image of the company to be used later to gain any interest. In addition, solar power is available only for the listed tobacco farmers of the company. Moreover, to hide its crime of burning forests for fueling tobacco leaves baking process, they run tree plantation programmes across the country. Interestingly, razing down the forests, the deforestation champion is awarded for tree plantation.
The so-called CSR activities by the tobacco companies – seriously harmful for public health, environment, society and economy, should be brought under control.