Dhaka, April 17 -- Banks in Bangladesh significantly reduced their spending on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in 2024, with total expenditure falling by 33 per cent compared to the previous year, according to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank.
In 2024, banks collectively spent Tk 6.16 billion on CSR activities, a decrease of Tk 3.08 billion from the Tk 9.24 billion spent in 2023. The decline is even steeper when compared to 2022, when CSR spending totalled Tk 11.29 billion - representing a drop of over Tk 5.13 billion, or more than 45 per cent, over the two-year period.
As per existing regulations, only banks that record a net profit are eligible to undertake CSR activities, with the decision on whether or how much t...