'Dev bodies can play pivotal role in proper utilisation of CSR funds'

Development organisations can play a pivotal role in proper utilisation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds in addressing social development issues of the country.
This can be attained through an effective linkage between NGOs and the corporate sector.
Speakers said this at a recent orientation programme on linking CSR with NGOs.
Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the two-day programme involving the chief executives and representatives of 14 NGOs from around the country with the support of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
The programme aimed to find ways how NGOs working at the grassroots can approach corporate sector for supporting development initiatives addressing needs and priorities of the community.
Two main objectives of the programme are to find the ways how to utilize CSR money as alternative source of funding for development; and secondly to identify corporate views about their priorities for CSR operations.
The orientation covered conceptual aspects and operational experiences of CSR from different perspectives.
Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, general manager, Bangladesh Bank; Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI; Syed Ishtiaque Reza, head of News, Boishakhi Television; M Emamul Haque, head of external relations, World Food Program (WFP); Murad Husain, manager, Business Support and CSR, Rahimafrooz Limited; Mekhola Haque, manager, Corporate Affairs, Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited, and Korvi Rakshand, founder chairman, Jaago Foundation, moderated different sessions of the programme as resource persons.