Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable de
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable de
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable de
Received: December 11, 2019 Accepted: December 26, 2019 Available online: January, 2019
doi:10.11114/aef.v6i2.3849 URL: https://doi.org/10.11114/aef.v6i2.3849
Abstract
This paper investigates the practices of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by commercial banks in Bangladesh and
the achievement of sustainable development through this practice. The motive of this descriptive research is to look at
the framework of CSR areas and contribution by the state-owned and private commercial banks to those areas during
2011-2017. This study reveals that commercial banks contribution in CSR is increasing every year and new CSR areas
are being concentrated on by commercial banks as part of their responsibility to the society and more and more focus is
being given to important CSR areas to achieve sustainable development. This study also shows that there is a positive
relationship between CSR and sustainable development. This research effort suggests that a precise guideline by the
government about CSR expenditure, large corporation’s timely involvement in CSR activities and CSR disclosure in the
bank’s annual report will fulfill the desired objectives of the business organizations. These will also ensure the
successful and sustainable development of the country.
Keywords: corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, commercial banks, disclosure
JEL Classification Code: M14, G34, L20
1. Introduction
Corporate social responsibility(CSR) is not only a humanitarian act but also it ensures congenial working environment
to an organizations employees, to pay fair payment, to provide regular vacation, to care as a human being and to take
proper care of the environment of the society. With the unusual development of new instrument, standards and
methodologies in the arena of business, now CSR is an extensive commitment captured by business organization of
thriving countries like Bangladesh to accelerate their ethical concept and communal involvement in the society and
making positive contribution to the economic development side by side improving the quality of the workforce and
enhance the quality of the product and services provided by them. Corporate social responsibility is observed as an
extensive set of policies programs and methods that are integrated all over the business activities and decision-making
process to confirm transparent business practices. By incorporating corporate social responsibility policies, organization
fasten their responsibilities towards the environment, employees, suppliers, communities, consumers and the other
members of the community and perform their social obligation by enhancing community development and eradicating
the practices which harm it. Sustainability refers to organizations activities that exhibit the inclusion of social and
environmental issues in business activities and in interaction with stakeholders. In literature, it is often mentioned that
commitment to sustainability influence the economic performance in the long run. (Kroher; 2005, Schwarz et al; 2006,
dawkins and lewis; 2003, Salzmann et al; 2005, Hopkins; 2002). Corporations performing CSR activities extensively
can ensure sustainable development and enhance their image for the long run. CSR or sustainability is, therefore, an
eminent feature of the business, addressing the topics of business ethics, global corporate citizenship, corporate social
performance, and stakeholder management.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows; section 2 presents the objectives of our paper. Section 3 reviews related
literature. Section 4 describes the methodology and data set used in this study. Section 5 presents the analysis and
findings of the results. Eventually, section 6 summarizes our concluding remarks.
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Philanthropic
Be a good corporate citizen To improve the quality of life
responsibility
Obey the law Legal responsibility Play by the rules of the game
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corporate social responsibility (CSR) in 1953 as “a responsibility to look for policies to make decisions and to pursue
lines of practice which is consistent to the objectives and values of society” (Douglas et al; 2004). Carroll proves that
social responsibility exists of 4 components such as ethical, legal, economic and discretionary prospect that society has
of a business and that business has to take the decision about which layer they should focus on ( Carroll, 1979).
According to Frankental (2001) “CSR is a dim and untouchable term that can mean anything to anybody, and hence is
effective without meaning”.
According to wood (1991), “The fundamental concept of corporate social responsibility is that society and business are
adorned rather than individual life”. Mallenbaker (2006), stated that “CSR is the thing that helps the business
organization to manage the business practice and to generate a positive effect on the society”. The difference has been
traced between CSR and core business activity in which CSR is seen as philanthropy as opposed to the core business
activity (Jones et al; 2007). Payny and Raiborn (2001), reasoned that without sustainable development “both the society
and the business will not have a long-term future”. Therefore, many others exercised the Brundtland definition to
enhance the framework on Sustainable development. Furgus and Rowney (2005), who brought a semantic structure that
clearly identified the terms and rational explanation of sustainability and three dimensions of it such as social, economic
and environmental. The term corporate sustainability was used by Dyllick and Hockerts (2002), who illustrated SD on a
firm level. Bizer (2000), mentioned covering the social dimension on a theoretical idea of social capital for further
improvement of sustainability indicators. Both emphasized on societal rather than business problem resolving process
within the social dimension. In literature, general agreement was not reached on the question whether CSR ought to be
defined as an exclusively voluntary idea or an accession that must be correctly regulated and to which organization must
be obliged (Hopkins, 2005). The correlation of the social dimension of sustainable development with CSR was focused
on by six papers. (Morimoto et al; 2005), tried to bring out whether corporate social responsibility is the social strand to
sustainable development as illustrated by Brundtland. They commented that in literature CSR is probably be explained
as the social strand of sustainable development as for instance, the world business council does for sustainable
development and the European Parliament for CSR. Korhonen (2003), stated that though the meaning of the term
sustainable development has been investigated a lot and many advocates differ in their opinion that “the concept of
sustainability has notwithstanding become the base for corporate social responsibility and for corporate environmental
management”. Center for Economic and Social development (2013[4]) stated that growing countries move more onto
economic and philanthropic dimensions of CSR than environmental dimension due to an incomplete concept of CSR,
severe rate of unemployment and appearance of poverty that have caused the inclination of the philanthropic lifestyle.
When a country is inclined to develop CSR practices into industries are only economically motivated and other features
such as environmental and atmospheric sustainability and social inclusiveness are ignored. Howsoever, a country which
combats to attain a sustainable business model side by side a broad accomplishment of corporate social responsibility
practices illustrated in Figure 2 (Oginni & Omojowo, 2016). As a business organization holds abundant resources that
influence social, environmental and financial spheres, it becomes essential to upgrade sustainable development (Figure
2). At the micro level, business organization accomplishes wide CSR practice which balances economic, social and side
by side environmental necessity via a sustainable business model. At the microscopic level, industries struggle onto
assuring policy attachment with wide national policies and at the same time international greatest practices on
sustainable business practices.
Economic dimension
ImplementationofCSR
Sustainable
Social dimension through a sustainable
development
business model
Environmental dimension
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contribution and participation (17 areas) and second highest MBL (16 areas), JBL (16 areas) and IBBL (16 areas). From
direct inspection and scrutinizing CSR section of the bank’s annual reports, we recognized that banks are gradually
increasing their volume of CSR expenditure every year and they are concentrating on more and more new CSR
practicing areas with a view to achieving sustainable development.
5.3 Aggregate CSR Expenditure of Sample Banks
All the banks, we have taken as the sample had some sort of engagement in corporate social responsibility practices in
2017. Sample banks engagement in CSR initiatives is rising, especially following the issuance of Bangladesh Banks
guidance. The aggregate CSR expenditures of sample banks in our analysis quickly increased from Tk. 95.35crore in
2011 to Tk. 368 crore in 2017 registering 285.95 percent growth in CSR expenditure from 2011 to 2017 ( Figure-3).
Banks CSR expenditures were mainly in the form of a grant- in- aid and donations. To perform the philanthropic,
ethical, legal and economic responsibility CSR expenditures of sample banks can be broadly classified as philanthropic
expenditures and strategic philanthropic expenses. Through the practice of CSR, banks are benefitted intensely both
directly & indirectly and have a massive contribution to the betterment and sustainable development of the society.
IBBL,
1057.8,
29%
DBBL,
1860, 52%
BBL, 164.3, 5%
Above diagram (Figure 4) displays total expenditure of eight banks in CSR in the year 2017. Among eight banks Dutch
Bangla bank (DBBL) has the highest contribution (52%). The lowest contribution is Janata Bank Limited (JBL) and
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) holds the second highest position (29%). Here from visual inspection, we see
that private commercial banks in Bangladesh contribute more to CSR expenditure as part of their social development
obligation. Increasing CSR expenditure by private commercial banks in Bangladesh every year is a crying need for
sustainable development. However, banks are trying their level best doing for the same.
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5.5 Aggregate CSR Expenditure by all Sample Banks in Five Major CSR Areas (In millions)
Aggregate CSR expenditure by all sample banks in five major CSR areas is presented in the following Figure 5.
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400 2016
200
0 2017
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Corporate Responsibility
(Sustainable Development)
Sustainable Development
Macro-level
Corporate sustainability
Legal Societal
Macro-level
Technological Culture
Ecological
Economic
Social
Environment
Market
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Conclusion
Corporate social responsibility is an essential part of the production of any company. Corporate social responsibility
(CSR) ambassador of Sweden states that CSR has four real significances such as standing against corruption, rights of
human being, protection of environment and justice to the interest of employees. This is the idea of a developed nation
and we are lagging behind in thinking. Nevertheless, we can look forward to maintaining sustainable development.
Various studies (Almona C P 2005, Kabir E 2003, Imam 2000) investigated that the framework for CSR reporting is not
available but at present, a legal framework is available for CSR areas. There are approximately 32 areas of CSR
expenditure. However, no banks participate fully in all of the specified areas. The highest participation is not more than
(71%) areas. Commercial banks CSR are confined to education, health, humanitarian and natural disaster, arts and
sports and miscellaneous activities. There are some areas such as aged/Adult person homes, accommodation for the
slum dwellers, Management of waste, engaged in forestation, support for treating acid victims, birth control initiative to
solve population problem etc. no participation of any bank. In the time of our analysis, we scrutinized that banks clearly
disclose CSR information in their annual report every year. Sample banks (100%) taken in this analysis reveal their
CSR information in each year’s annual report. Another thing we have noticed that every bank has a very good
concentration and consideration of health, education, and humanitarian & disaster relief areas. Every bank contributed
the highest amount in the health and education sector. However, CSR expenditure by every bank in every year is
increased to some extent to improve the CSR areas to achieve wide development. From this research effort, it can be
easily said that our commercial banks are very conscious about CSR issues and their contribution to CSR is increasing
year after year that ultimately leads to the achievement of sustainable development for a developing like Bangladesh.
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