In our country the banks feel free to donate big amount of money. More often than not donations are made under easy pressure from the government for financing political events. The question of securing special favour cannot be ruled out. Donation for meeting human calamity is understandable.
What should be known the directors of banks that public money is not available for free distribution as donations. This point needs to be cleared. Even if the money is given from them also profits belongs to shareholders and their money cannot be given away without their consent.
Bangladesh’s banks have not the IFC’s suggested social and environmental performance frameworks, nor have they considered GRI as their reporting framework. Why should then they donate to causes without the express wishes of the shareholders? Profits are meant for future investment, or for paying shareholders dividends. Why then banks are so easily yield to pressure for making donations. The banks cannot be generous with public money. It has become necessary to bring the matter for testing in law.
In a country where under-developed democratic institutions, family-led politics and poverty are norms, the social activities of businesses take on a sinister nature. Rather than demonstrating their service to the community, banks in Bangladesh need to be strictly regulated. But that is not expected.
Contributions to the Liberation War Museum suddenly appeared in bank accounts from 2010 onwards. There are ways of raising funds personally from the super rich ones who enjoy special considerations for making money. Bankers also lined up to contribute to Prime Minister’s fund under every government. Presently, a particular government favourite has earned quite a reputation for pressuring the banks to make available funds for the government under various pretexts such as the BDR Mutiny, a failed rebellion in 2009, and the Nimtoli fire tragedy in 2010.
In the case of donations to the Liberation War Museum and Victory Monument, the establishment which was an election promise of the Awami League, should have been in budget allocation. There were 19 donations made by banking companies over the course of four years. The donations began soon after the election of the government; each bank donated exactly the same amount to the cause. We say the liberation was a people’s war without preparation and the show could not leave the country sacrificed most. This truth is not recognition. Those who went to India they seem to come have been motivated politically against our people’s Liberation War for democracy. One party rule was never our people’s politics.
The public money has been plundering in any way but there is no hurry to punish them. But any concession for saving the loan defaulting industries there is no problem for misleading the government.
It is coming out that the development indexes manipulated by dishonest bureaucrats are false. All indexes of development are low. Stock Exchange is crippled. The banks also are in awful condition. Economy is in coma.
So we ask the bank directors not to treat public money as their private money for personal generosity. The directors will certainly be held personally liable if the matter is challenged in court. Lawlessness cannot be a permanent fixture. The corruption cases withdrawn can be restored and new cases can be initiated. Time is no factor.
So we ask the bank directors not to treat public money as their private money for personal generosity. The directors will certainly be held personally liable if the matter is challenged in court. Lawlessness cannot be a permanent fixture. The corruption cases withdrawn can be restored and new cases can be initiated. Time is no factor.
