PHOTO: NCC BANK

STAR BUSINESS DESK

NCC Bank PLC has unveiled its “1st Annual Sustainability Report 2024” during an awareness-building programme on sustainable finance.

The report, prepared with a focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities, aims to strengthen the awareness and capacity of the bank’s executives and officials regarding sustainable banking practices and to support the bank’s long-term strategic objectives.

Chowdhury Liakat Ali, director of the Sustainable Finance Department (SFD) at the Bangladesh Bank, attended the event as the chief guest, according to a press release.

In his keynote address, Ali elaborated on the current landscape of sustainable finance, green finance, refinancing, and environmental and social risk management. He underscored the growing significance of this sector and lauded NCC Bank for publishing its “1st Annual Sustainability Report” and organising such a timely programme.

He emphasised the importance of integrating environmental considerations into financing decisions across various sectors and urged all financial institutions, including banks, to adopt more environmentally responsible practices.

“NCC Bank has been conducting its operations in line with Bangladesh Bank’s guidelines, giving due importance to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors,” M Shamsul Arefin, managing director of NCC Bank PLC, said while presiding over the programme.

“As part of this commitment, the bank has formally published its “1st Annual Sustainability Report 2024”, which showcases the bank’s initiatives and activities towards building a sustainable future,” he added.

Nighat Mumtaz, senior vice-president and head of the sustainable banking and women’s banking division of NCC Bank PLC, conducted the programme.

Ahmed Zubaer Mahbub, additional director of the central bank; Md Abu Rayhan, joint director; Md Abu Nayeem, assistant director of the SFD; M Khurshed Alam, additional managing director and chief risk officer of NCC Bank; Md Mahbub Alam, Md Zakir Anam, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman and Md Monirul Alam, deputy managing directors; and Md Khalid Hossain Khan, managing director of Euro Knitwear Ltd, were also present.