The role of business sectors to incorporate CSR in their value chain, UN World Food Programme (UN WFP) and Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh jointly organized a Seminar on “Adequate Nutrition for Workers’ - Economic and Social Benefits of Fortified Rice” on March 20, 2019, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Mr. Sarkar Abul Kalam Azad, Honorable Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food was present as Chief Guest with welcome speech by Dr. Mahfuzul Haque, Director of SR Asia Bangladesh. Mr. Rezaul Karim, Head of Programme, UNWFP Bangladesh, Ms. Sabina Alam, Vice President, BWCCI, Mr. Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Former President, BGMEA were also present as Special Guest. The discussion was moderated by Mr Rubaiyath Sarwar , Managing Director of Innovision Global Consulting Limited and Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director of SR Asia Bangladesh addressed the closing speech.

Around Thirty (30) brands and 40 factory top management representatives were present in the round table discussion

The role of business sectors to incorporate CSR in their value chain, UN World Food Programme (UN WFP) and Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh jointly organized a Seminar on “Adequate Nutrition for Workers Economic and Social Benefits of Fortified Rice” on February 16, 2019 at WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 102-103, AGRABAD STREET, AGRABAD, CHITTAGONG 4100. In short, goal of the Seminar IS TO Encourage garment factory owners to provide fortified rice to their employees, most of them young women.

The joint programme of UNWFP and SR Asia Bangladesh, Honorable Mayor, Chattogram City Corporation, Mr. A. J. M. Nasir Uddin was present as Chief Guest with Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director of SR Asia Bangladesh at chair. Mr. Rezaul Karim, Head of Programme, UNWFP Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Omar Faruque, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food, Mr. Rajib Das Sujoy, Director, BKMEA, Mr. Showkat Osman, Former Director, BKMEA, Ms. Abida Mostafa, Senior Vice President, Chattogram Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Shahariar Alam, Advisor of SR Asia Bangladesh were also present as Special Guest.

The international Conference, September 30, 2018 is the follow up event of the seminar on inclusive business in August 2018. Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh expresses its heartiest gratitude to Dutch Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI) for giving the opportunity to organize and assist technical support to this international conference on “Inclusive Business” funded by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We are thankful to SNV Netherland Development Organization for its technical support and to all the discussants from different industries who joined us as speaker in the seminar. The support of North South University, for providing venue and all logistical supports is appreciated.

The seminar highlighted the adoption of sustainable development agenda and global agreement on SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - to incorporate Inclusive Business in corporate and assist Government to adopt. The large companies need to develop the consumer capacity for their own survival. Business must think of economic growth but not compromising the need of the society, eco-system and certainly the demand of the future generation. To ensure the give back to the society and environment from where the business get benefits, it is important to introduce innovative methodology to involve the under privileged community at large in its entire value chain, SR Asia Bangladesh in association with SNV Netherlands Development Organisation organized a seminar on Inclusive Business in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh and SMS Environmental Alliance made up handshake on 26th of April 2018 to celebrate World Environment Day and jointly organized a seminar on 9th June 2018 in association with North South University to raise awareness and urge governments, industry, communities, and individuals to come together and explore sustainable alternatives and urgently reduce the production and use of single-use plastic that pollutes oceans, damages marine life and threatens human health.

In order to understand the role of Government in national development agenda, process model from inception to implementation and evaluation methodology of government initiative, challenges to a national commitment, The objectives of the seminar are:

- Discuss, share and create awareness about the present scenario plastic pollution in Bangladesh.

- Discuss on challenges and possible solution to complement the UN commitment to substantial reduction of plastic waste by 2025 and the long-term aim for Zero Plastic Waste and pollution.

- Understand the changing paradigm of behavior of people in Bangladesh to reduce plastic pollution.

- Explore the scope for Community-Civil Society - Government - Corporate partnerships and facilitate dialogue for ‘development’.

SR Asia Bangladesh in association with National Productivity Organization (NPO), Ministry of Industries facilitated two days long training on Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) during 9-10 February 2018.

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On 8th November 2017, SR Asia Bangladesh facilitated a workshop on “Sustainability Reporting & Assurance” at Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh. Officials from CRAB participated in this workshop. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director of SR Asia Bangladesh facilitated the workshop

Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh organized its National Conference on “Propagating CSR Programmes by Corporate in Bangladesh” on 02 August 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The conference was attended by around 200 delegates from different sectors with majority from the business entities. Joint Social Responsibility of public and private companies can be an effective tool to alleviate social problems. On Wednesday (02 August 2017), speakers shed some light on this topic in a seminar jointly organized by Social Responsibility (SR) Asia and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) in the capital. Mr. M A Mannan, State Minister for Finance & Planning was present as Chief Guest with Country Director of SR Asia, Bangladesh Ms. Sumaya Rashid as chair of the session.

2 Days Training on "Forster your skill to become an entrepreneur", organized by SR Asia Bangladesh. The sessions were facilitated by Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director, SR Asia Bangladesh and Mr. Abdul Wadud, Principal of Small & Cottage Industries Training Institute on 14-15 July 2017. Our sincere gratitude to Mr. Mohammed Gazi Tauhidur Rahman to share his experience to the participants.

Social Responsibility Asia - SR Asia has successfully organized National Seminar on "CSR: Present Status of Bangladesh & Way Forward" 13th May 2017 with the support of BGCCI, Comfit Composite Knit Ltd, Pran Group and Bangladesh Commerce Bank Ltd. We published the survey report on CSR. Ms. Parvin Banu, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance was present as special guest and Dr. Mahfuzul Haque chaired the seminar. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director of SR Asia Bangladesh presented the survey report.

Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director of SR Asia Bangladesh facilitated a learning session among 45 entrepreneurs in Bangladesh on 11 January 2017. She has facilitated the session on how to improve communication to improve business and how can a business entity increase it human resource productivity. The session was organized by SCITI, BSCIC, Ministry of Industries. Forty-five (45) entrepreneurs from different sectors participated in this session

SR Asia Bangladesh representative conducted training on “Entrepreneurship Development” supported by World Vision, during 5 – 9 February 2017. 5 days, SR Asia Bangladesh was associated with some energetic people who are desperate to be empowered …. No complain to stay long, no tiredness. One woman is 75 years old, another came with her child as none to take care of her baby but we found sparkle in their eyes which is lesson for us. No one ever said it was easy being an entrepreneur. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now- Not tomorrow- Not next week- But today. The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.

3 Days long training on "Generate Your Business Idea", Start & Improve Your Business (SIYB) Programme Supported by: Bangladesh Skills for Employment and Productivity (BSEP) Project, ILO country office for Dhaka and Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF). Social Responsibility Asia - SR Asia is one of the partnering organization of this training programme. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director, SR Asia Bangladesh and Mr. Litan Baruri together facilitated the training from 26-28 January 2016

SR Asia Bangladesh facilitated a Master Class on Corporate Social Responsibility at Professional Society of Bangladesh (PSB) on 11th November 2016 to aware the importance of implementing CSR in organizations.

Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh and National Productivity Organization (NPO), Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Govt. jointly organized a seminar on “SDGs & Productivity for Organizational Excellence on 2nd October 2016, on occasion of National Productivity Day, declared by H.E Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Around 75 participants from different industries joined in this seminar.

The Seminar was chaired by Mr. Ajit Kupar Paul, Director, NPO, Ministry of Industries and moderated by Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director, SR Asia Bangladesh. Dr. Mahfuzul Haque, Former Secretary, Ministry of L & E and Dr. Nazrul Islam, Former Director, NPO were special guest of the seminar.

SR Asia organized the 5th International Conference on “Implementation Challenges of SDGs and Business Competitiveness” 21-26 July 2016, Dhaka, Bangladesh in association with European Union through INSPIRED Project. The conference was full of expert presentations, deliberation, discussion, expert sessions and field /project visits.

SR Asia Bangladesh facilitated three (3) days Master Class on “Corporate Social Responsibility” – CSR at SouthEast University Bangladesh BBA faculty from 6th April – 9th April 2016. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director, SR Asia Bangladesh facilitated the entire classes. Leading companies recognize the long-term value of integrating social responsibility into core business strategy. An emphasis in corporate social responsibility prepares students to lead sustainability and CSR efforts within a company and to become an effective change agent for positive social impact when they will start their professional career.

On 15th of March 2016, jointly Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DCCI) organized a seminar on Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) to sensitize the business leaders to manufacture in environment friendly and cost effective way. Around 70 participants from different manufacturing companies, INGOs, Government officials were present in this seminar. Mr. Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, ndc, Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was the chief guest to the seminar. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director, SR Asia Bangladesh presented the key note speech and Mr. Hiroshi Tachikawa, Managing Director of Profarm Ltd. & International Expert of SR Asia presented through skype.

SR Asia Bangladesh organized a daylong workshop on "Sustainability Reporting Guidelines" on October 6, 2015, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr. Aditi Haldar, Director, GRI South Asia facilitated the workshop. Dr. Semerdanta Pusaka, International Director, Social Responsibility Asia - SR Asia delivered his speech through skype and presented Sustainability Reporting practice in Indonesia. Around 50 participants from banks, corporate and regulator (Bangladesh Bank) participated in this workshop.

SR Asia organized a workshop on “Sustainability Reporting & Sustainability Report Assurance - What we are and where we go" at NPO, Ministry of Industries on 28th January 2015. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director of SR Asia chaired the workshop.

The 3rd International conference of SR Asia has shared, discussed and deliberated on the challenges and opportunities, today developing countries faces and with specific context Bangladesh. The discussion shall help in prioritizing poverty mitigation, responsible product development and export, financial inclusion and maximize compliances. The deliberation has helped us to conclude steps and recommendation for the stakeholders. Experts from Bangladesh and other part of the world are well known thought leaders and distinguished individuals from different walk of life, their immense contribution to the conference go beyond the words.

On 17th January, 2013, SR Asia Bangladesh organized a day long national conference on Business Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility in association with Bangladesh Employers’ Federation. Around 200 Top Level Executives were present in the conference.

SR Asia was conceptualized by APO and NPOs. Appreciating the initiation of SR Asia, Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Director-NPO, Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh extended his support to this organization. Officially NPO has issued a letter to technically support SR Asia’s Bangladesh programs.

In close collaboration with NPO-Bangladesh, SR Asia Bangladesh commenced its activities in Sep, 2011. Ms. Sumaya Rashid, Country Director-SR Asia Bangladesh chapter set off the process by associating professionals, Ex-Government officials, corporate leaders, academia, research scholars, civil society organizations, International agencies.