Standard Chartered provides 7,000 sehri meals to distressed families on behalf of clients

To share the blessings of Ramadan with clients and the community, Standard Chartered has provided over 7,000 meals to families who lost their livelihoods due to adverse impact of Covid-19. The meals have been shared on behalf of the bank's clients in the spirit of the holy month.

The packages were prepared and distributed in partnership with Bidyanondo Foundation in locations across Dhaka, according to a press release.

Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, "Each Ramadan, we have had the good fortune of sharing meals together with our clients. While we did not have the privilege to do so this year, we are fortunate to have been able to share meals with the vulnerable communities during the holy month on behalf of our clients."

He added, "The pandemic has laid bare the fault lines of the society, leaving the less fortunate more vulnerable than ever. This act of kindness is a token of our solidarity of purpose, as we work together to heal these fault lines. The pandemic is a tragic and painful reminder of the need to build a more resilient and equitable society, and together, we will rise to this call."

Standard Chartered is the longest serving financial institution in the country, celebrating 116 years in Bangladesh in 2021. As a trusted partner in progress, the Bank is committed to supporting the nation's economic progress and development through its core business of Banking. In the face of a generational challenge, the bank stood by grassroot communities across Bangladesh, helping the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The bank's initiatives focused both on immediate assistance and life-saving medical intervention, while working towards longer-term recovery through skills development and workforce reintegration. These initiatives combined saw the bank being recognised as the international bank with the highest CSR spend in 2020 by Bangladesh Bank.

Standard Chartered is currently focusing its community support measures in five key areas:

• Providing life-sustaining food and hygiene support to 120,000 individuals, providing 3,600,000 meals and personal hygiene material through Bidyanondo Foundation, BRAC and Kumudini Welfare Trust.
• Supporting life-saving medical services for 560 critically affected COVID-19 patients through Sajida Foundation and Bidyanondo Foundation.
• Supporting livelihood of 2,000 farmers by directly sourcing 200 tonnes of fresh produce and delivering them free of cost to 200,000 direct beneficiaries with OBHIZATRIK Foundation.
• Supporting education by contributing BDT 109,135,000 (USD 1.3 million) to UNICEF to be used for protection measures and remote education of vulnerable children.
• Supporting the healthcare workers fighting on the frontlines by contributing BDT 25,185,000 (USD 300,000) to Red Cross programmes.

The Bank had announced a broad range of support measures for its retail customers and businesses, including loan repayment holidays, fee waivers or cancellations and loan extension facilities, in addition to the government-led support measures. It has initiated a US$1 billion global financing programme for companies that provide goods and services to help the fight against COVID-19. It has also launched a US$50 million fund aiding communities affected by the pandemic across its global footprint, including Bangladesh.