bKash CEO awarded for Covid-19 CSR efforts

Kamal Quadir, Chief Executive Officer of mobile financial service provider bKash, has been awarded "Best E-cash/money & CSR award" at the "Global Business CSR Award-2021" for his contribution to the welfare of people during the Covid period.

The award ceremony was held on Saturday at a city hotel to honour officials from various fields who have contributed in CSR activities during the pandemic, a press document said.

LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam was present as chief guest of the event, while Dr Md Enamur Rahman, State Minister for Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; Murad Hasan, State Minister of Information; and Dr Shahjahan Mahmood, Chairperson of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company were present as special guests.

During the early days of the pandemic, bKash organised one of the largest medical intervention efforts by handing over 350 ventilators along with more than 950,000 emergency medical toolkits -- which included masks, thermometers, protective clothing, gloves, medical goggles -- to the government. The aide was donated by its overseas partner Alibaba, the press release said.

From its own fund, bKash also provided 30 ventilators to hospitals and installed an oxygen plant at the Diabetic Hospital. In addition, bKash also worked with Bidyanondo Foundation to establish a hospital in Chattogram, provided food aid to disadvantaged families through the Sena Kalyan Sangstha and a few NGOs.