EBL partners Prokriti O Jobon Foundation for sundarbans mangrove restoration

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has partnered with Prokriti O Jibon Foundation (POJF) to support the Mangrove Restoration for Climate Resilience Project (MRCP) in the Sundarbans coastal belt, including Satkhira and adjacent areas.

The initiative will focus on mangrove restoration, community engagement and alternative livelihood support to strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable coastal communities. The project aims to address biodiversity loss, salinity intrusion, deforestation and wider climate impacts, the partners said.

As part of its CSR programme, Ali Reza Iftekhar, managing director of EBL, handed over a cheque to Muqeed Majumdar Babu, chairman of POJF, at a ceremony held at EBL's head office in Dhaka on Tuesday.

"Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles are central to our operational philosophy. Partnering with POJF allows us to contribute meaningfully to environmental protection and climate risk mitigation, while supporting vulnerable communities in building long-term resilience," Iftekhar said.

Babu said, "The Sundarbans – the world's largest mangrove forest – is not merely a forest; it is Bangladesh's natural shield against climate adversity. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our commitment to restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems and empowering coastal communities to secure a more resilient future."

Senior officials from both organisations attended the event. From POJF, attendees included Shamim Ahmed, programme manager; Md Ahmadul Haque, administrator and chief financial officer; Mahfuz-Ul-Haque Banna, senior executive; and Aminul Islam Swapan, director of photography. From EBL, attendees included Ahmed Shaheen, additional managing director; Riad Mahmud Chowdhury, deputy managing director and head of corporate banking; Md Abdullah Al Mamun, FCS, company secretary; Maj Md Abdus Salam (retd), head of administration; Ziaul Karim, head of communications and external affairs; Md Maskur Reza, FCA, head of business information systems; and Mostafa Sarwar, head of CRM.