Banks donate Tk 85cr for the flood-hit

Private banks yesterday donated Tk 85 crore to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for rehabilitation of flood-hit people as part of their corporate social responsibility activities.

"Banks always stand by the flood-affected people and the victims of other natural disasters. We do it willingly," said Nazrul Islam Majumder, chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks, a forum of the directors of the 39 private banks in the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the funds from the chairmen of the banks at a programme organised by the BAB at the Prime Minister's Office in the capital.

The government has the best network and instruments to distribute the relief funds, which is why the banks handed over the donations to the prime minister's fund, Majumder said.

Islami Bank and Dutch-Bangla donated Tk 5 crore each, according to the BAB. The nine new banks donated Tk 50 lakh each and the remaining banks Tk 3 crore each.

Some banks could not donate funds yesterday as their chairmen were not available, according to Majumder.