Unimart extends support to MRDI's CSR initiative

Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, managing director of United Group, and Hasibur Rahman, executive director of Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), take a look at products made by vulnerable women who have developed skills under the CSR initiative of MRDI, in the Unimart Baishakhi fair in the capital. Photo: MRDI

Unimart provided MRDI with a space in the five-day Baishakhi Mela to display products of vulnerable women who have developed skills under the CSR initiative of Manusher Jonno Foundation and the Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI).
The foundation and MRDI launched the initiative in partnership with The City Bank, Bank Al-Falah and Midas Financing with an objective to market such products, MRDI said in a statement yesterday.
Colourful pillow covers, sofa back, window curtains are on display at the capital's super shopping mall Unimart.
“These hand-stitched fancy items have been produced by a group of women who are vulnerable to irregular migration, trafficking and health hazards, living in Basatpur, a village of bordering district of Jessore,” according to the statement.
The items also come from another poor segment of women living in the remote Sundarbans area who had hardly any income opportunities other than collecting fish fry from saline waters thus risking their health, MRDI said.
Hasibur Rahman, MRDI's executive director, thanked Unimart for showcasing the products made by the women living in far-flung areas.
"Businesses can operate CSR in multiple approaches. Engaging vulnerable women in small trades through skills development is one phase of poverty reduction initiative.”
But creating their access to market is also a very important aspect of the process, Rahman said.
"An effective partnership between corporate and development sectors will pave the way for alleviating poverty and ensuring sustainable development in the country," said Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, managing director of United Group.
He promised to continue supporting such initiatives in future.
Unimart is a department store in the city and a sister concern of United group.
The fair ends today, according to the statement.