DHAKA: Globally and historically this has been proved that businesses sustained long when they kept people and the society on the top of all considerations.
Sustainable business initiatives have innovated new ideas to address the needs of people aiming to build a caring society.
This view was expressed at a weeklong capacity building workshop on corporate social responsibility (CSR) held at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.
MRDI organized the workshop in partnership with of Bangladesh Bank and in collaboration with AIT.
Sixteen Professors of Dhaka University including Deans of social sciences and business studies faculties, Director of IBA and chairpersons of thirteen departments, representatives of Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) and MRDI participated in the workshop that took place from 6 to 11 June 2014. During the workshop the participants made a visit to the Standard Chartered village in the Mekong province to see a sustainable CSR intervention.
The highly participatory and interactive workshop was facilitated by Mr. Alex Mavro, Professor of the Sasin Institute of Business Administration, Chulalongkron University, Bangkok and Mr. Dennis Walker, management and sustainability consultant.
The workshop presented an innovative model of business sustainability called ISIS methodology which stands for Indicators, Systems, Innovation and Strategy.
Linking CSR with sustainability, the workshop highlighted on global trends and practices in sustainability, working definitions, stakeholder engagement, regulation and standards such as ISO 26000, HDI, GRI and Global Compact.
While handing over certificates to the participants in the closing session, Executive Director of AIT-Extension Dr. Jonathon Shaw stressed the need for the need for building a sustainable society. He said, business that creates values for the stakeholders sustain in the long run. “A program or business designed in a constructive manner sustains, whereas an extractive design necessarily collapses,” he added.
Dr.Sundar Venkatesh, Advisor to the Executive Director termed the workshop as a unique one which involved senior professors of Dhaka University. He thankfully mentioned the strong advocacy role of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr. Atiur Rahman in promoting CSR and the concept of inclusive banking.
Head of the delegation Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dhaka University emphatically mentioned that this is the biggest high profile team attending a workshop abroad in 93 years’ history of Dhaka University. Expressing special gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University professor A A M S Arefin Siddique, he thanked AIT, Bangladesh Bank, MRDI and all the participants for making the workshop successful with their efforts. He extended special thanks to Mr. Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director, MRDI for his diligent effort in organizing the workshop.
Addressing the closing session Mr. Md. Shahid Hossain, Advisor, Planning and Development hoped that the partnership among Dhaka University, AIT and MRDI will take an institutional shape to promote common causes like CSR, sustainability and other development issues.
The 22 member delegation has returned Dhaka today.
Photo Caption: Bangladesh delegation led by Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dhaka University is seen in the photo session at AIT, Thailand. Executive Director of AIT-Extension Dr. Jonathon Shaw, Advisor to the Executive Director Dr.Sundar Venkatesh and Executive Director, MRDI Hasibur Rahman are also seen.
BDST: 1649 HRS, JUNE 12, 2014
