Standard Chartered Bangladesh has undertaken a comprehensive suite of initiatives spanning six critical sectors — agriculture, education, environment, health, entrepreneurship, and disaster management — generating a positive and wide-reaching impact across various regions of the country.

The multinational bank reaffirmed its enduring commitment to community development and environmental stewardship through these multifaceted efforts.

Among its notable interventions, the bank implemented 11 agricultural projects across 23 districts, addressing areas such as crop productivity, aquaculture, apiculture, mechanisation, and agro-processing. Additionally, it funded seven research initiatives across four universities to foster innovation and enhance resilience within the farming sector.

In the char regions, agricultural support efforts led to 92 percent of households reporting improved dietary outcomes, signifying enhanced food security. 

A targeted intervention to improve honey production, processing, and marketing resulted in a 25.89 percent increase in yield, a 13.10 percent rise in sales volume, and a 17.85 percent boost in selling prices.

Within the health sector, the bank facilitated nationwide eye care camps, benefitting over 1.15 million individuals. It also trained 118 nurses and established a fourth medical oxygen plant across four community hospitals, further strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

Commenting on initiatives and its success, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of the bank, said, "Our community initiatives are not peripheral to our operations — they are integral to our identity and our commitment to serving society," 

"At Standard Chartered, we are investing in long-term impact — empowering entrepreneurs, nurturing students, protecting the environment, supporting agriculture, promoting innovation, and standing beside communities in times of adversity," he added.

The bank also launched a five-year initiative aimed at restoring 50 hectares of land as mangrove forest, thereby contributing to biodiversity conservation and bolstering climate resilience.

To mitigate the risks posed by seasonal flooding, it constructed eight raised plinths across vulnerable char areas in the north, offering refuge and protection to at-risk communities.

All initiatives are subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation by third-party assessors, ensuring their effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

Bitopi Das Chowdhury, head of corporate affairs, brand and marketing at Standard Chartered Bangladesh, remarked, "None of this would be possible without our dedicated implementation partners on the ground. Their expertise and ability to engage with communities at the grassroots level — even in the most remote corners of the country — continue to drive our collective mission of inclusive growth."