MTB, MRDI extend support to corona-affected offshore villagers  

Corporate sector has been contributing significantly in social development including reducing poverty, fighting disaster and adverse situation. Besides government initiatives, precise use of the CSR funds is causing a positive impact on development.

Speakers have opined this at a programme disbursing cash donation to the Covid-19 victims in Char Patila and Shahbazpur villages of Char kukri Mukri union of Char fashion Upazila, Bhola on Monday.

Md. Ruhul Amin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Char fashion; Md. Abul Hashem Mahajan, Chairman of Char Kukri Mukri Union and Monir Ahmed Shuvro, Director, Unnayn Dhara Trust were present at the event where 510 families of two villages including all the students of Sharifpara Government Primary School, members of Char Patila Health Care and Women Development Center and 100 marginalized families of Shahbazpur were given Tk. 2000.00 each.

Like the rest of the country, these two remote villages of Char Kukri Mukri have been badly affected by the ongoing situation created by Corona virus pandemic. Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) has taken the initiative under its CSR funds in partnership with MRDI. 

In a message on this occasion, Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of MTB said, our aim is to make the development initiatives sustainable through proper use of CSR funds. He also expressed his satisfaction that they could stand beside the corona-affected people. Our such programmes will continue in the future, he added.

Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director, MRDI said in his message, coordinated CSR efforts can make significant contribution in handling the Corona virus pandemic, which can both supplement and complement the government’s efforts. He urged the corporate sector to come forward with this feeling.

Ruhul Amin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Char fashion, who was present at the cash donation distribution event said that MTB’s initiative is an example of how CSR programmes are helping the Government to deal with pandemic.

Disconnected from the locality, people of these villages have become jobless amidst the corona virus pandemic, thus could not fulfill their daily needs anymore, pointed out Abul Hashem Mahajon, Union Parishad Chairman of Char Kukri Mukri. MTB’s cash donation besides the help from the government will give them some relief. 

Monir Ahmed Shuvro, Director of Unnayan Dhara Trust expressed gratitude and thanked MTB and MRDI for this initiative and hoped they will continue their effort to help the people of this offshore island.

People of the village Char Patila, that is detached from the mainland and adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, are deprived of all kinds of development and public services. Half of the people are landless, over 60 percent are extremely poor, 80 percent people are illiterate and 60 percent of them are living on fishing. For almost a decade Mutual Trust Bank under its CSR programme in partnership with MRDI and Unnayan Dhara Trust, has been implementing interventions to improve the life and livelihood of the marginalized villagers.  

 -rmc/