StanChart rolls out pandemic response plan for 2021

Standard Chartered Bangladesh has announced a Tk 13.5 crore strategic action plan for 2021 to support healthcare and immediate assistance, restore livelihoods and catalyse long-term growth.

The new measures include immediate assistance through emergency food relief distribution for Covid-19 affected marginalised communities, healthcare support, medical equipment for healthcare facilities and frontline health workers, oxygen concentrators for patients, and treatment support for critically impacted patients.

The fund will also be used to raise awareness on the protection from Covid-19, and post-Covid-19 healthcare, generate jobs, and support entrepreneurs and education programmes.

In a press release yesterday, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "While Bangladesh has been weathering the Covid-19 storm relatively well, with the risk of another wave imminent, we must remain vigilant."

"Helping our communities rise above Covid-19 remains as important as ever. This is why we are announcing another comprehensive, multi-pronged, Covid-19 response plan for the community, just as we did last year."

The plan builds on the bank's extensive initiatives from 2020 but is more diverse in scope and will be more impactful.

"While the response package is large, the need of the hour for the country is significantly more. In sharing this, we hope others will leverage this framework and some of the tested initiatives so that together we can achieve the large-scale impact that is a necessity at this juncture," the CEO said.

Bitopi Das Chowdhury, head of corporate affairs, brand and marketing of the bank, said the pandemic had reshaped lives permanently and would leave lasting impacts on all.

"While addressing the immediate needs of the Covid-affected people continues to be our priority, we are also focused on building for the longer term, co-investing in healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and future skills development."

"Close partnerships among the private sector, developmental organisations and the government have never been more crucial – to make our economy and people more resilient."

The commitment to support Bangladesh saw the bank secure 25 major international awards in 2020, the press release said.

It was also recognised as the international bank with the highest expenditure under the corporate social responsibility programmes in 2020 by the Bangladesh Bank.