BRAC opens green retail outlet

BRAC Kanon, an outlet of BRAC Social Enterprises, started operation in the capital yesterday with an aim to encourage city-dwellers to save energy, money and trees.
Irene Khan, an internationally renowned human rights activist and a member of BRAC governing body, inaugurated the display and sales centre of green products at a ceremony in the city.
Located on Gulshan-Tejgaon Link road and spread over one bigha of land, this is the country's first ever green retail outlet which comprises four enterprises -- BRAC Solar, BRAC Nursery, BRAC Recycled Handmade Paper and BRAC Sericulture, featuring their products and services.
It offers ornamental, fruit, timber and medicinal plants, landscaping and plant rental services, silk products produced by rural artisans, recycled handmade paper-based products and office stationery, and energy saving solar instant power supply and power solutions.
The outlet is fully powered by BRAC Solar with whole night backup solution supporting 2.4 kilowatt load for eight hours.
BRAC Kanon is an expression of BRAC Social Enterprises towards a greener future.
"These enterprises were established a long ago, offering products and services in rural areas, but people in urban centres do not know about them," said Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali, managing director of Enterprises and Investments, BRAC.
"We have to acquaint people with such enterprises and what they can do to make a difference in saving the environment," he said.
He said the platform would promote green enterprises, presenting green products with a new look.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said Dhaka has lost gardens due to rapid urbanisation.
Iqbal Habib, consultant architect of BRAC Kanon, said: "The outlet shows what we can do even in a small way to create a new revolution."
Mahabub Hossain, executive director of BRAC, and Nazra Mahjabeen Sabet, programme head of BRAC Enterprises, also spoke.