Standard Chartered Bangladesh (SCB) has benefited about 18 million people in the country in the last five years through development activities carried out in collaboration with various local and international organizations. This information was disclosed at a press conference held at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday (May 18, 2025).
The press conference was organized on the basis of a discussion titled ‘Standard Chartered Bangladesh’s Sustainable Development Progress’. It highlighted various aspects of the bank’s multi-dimensional social responsibility (CSR) activities.
Standard Chartered Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Naser Ejaz Bijoy, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Department Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Executive Director of NGO Friendship Runa Khan, Executive Director of UCEP Bangladesh Emdadul Karim, CEO of Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital AKM Akhtaruzzaman and Founder of TMSS Dr. Hosne-Ara Begum participated in the discussion.
Naser Ejaz Bijoy said, “In 2024 alone, our CSR activities have improved the quality of life of about 1 million people in the country. These include farmers, youth, small entrepreneurs and vulnerable groups in the society.”
Presenting the organization’s activities, Bitopi Das Chowdhury said that SCB’s collaborative activities have been spread to remote areas in line with environmental conservation, disaster management and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also said that SCB, in collaboration with Ispahani Islamia Hospital, has provided eye care services to about 1.15 million people.
AKM Akhtaruzzaman, CEO of the hospital, said, “Eye health is one of the most important aspects of sustainable development, which has a direct impact on individual lives.” He said that since January 2025, a special project for eye care, screening, scanning and surgery has been launched for 2.5 lakh school and madrasa students across the country.
Runa Khan of Friendship said corporate partners now want to see the real impact of their activities, not just the financial cost. She said that SCB and Friendship have set up a ‘solar village’ in a remote Char area, which has had a huge positive impact on the local economy.
“Those who hadn’t seen a 500-tk note even three years ago are now looking for a loan of 2 lakh taka to expand their business,” she said.
