City Bank and Oxfam in Bangladesh will now work together to improve safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for disadvantaged tea garden communities through climate-resilient solutions.
This initiative, which places special emphasis on the safety, health, and dignity of women and girls, aims to address the WASH crisis in tea plantation communities and increase their capacity to cope with the impacts of climate change.
The bank’s Managing Director and CEO Masrur Arefin and Oxfam in Bangladesh’s Interim Country Director Anil Pant signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations at a ceremony held at City Bank Center. City Bank’s Additional Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Additional Managing Director and Chief Information Officer Kazi Azizur Rahman and Head of Brand and Marketing Shahriar Jamil Khan were present at the ceremony. In addition, Oxfam in Bangladesh’s Program Management Advisor Mahmuda Sultana and Head of Finance, Risk and Compliance Halima Akhter Mitu, along with senior officials from both organizations, were present at the ceremony.
Masrur Arefin said, “Access to safe water and sanitation is essential for human health and dignity. This partnership brings together two important priorities of City Bank’s CSR activities – women and the environment. Through this, we aim to provide practical and climate-resilient solutions that will bring meaningful changes to the lives of tea garden communities.”
Anil Pant said, “While women tea workers play a vital role in Bangladesh’s tea industry, many tea plantation communities still face chronic shortages of safe water and sanitation, exacerbated by rising climate risks. This partnership is not just about building infrastructure—it is a special initiative to ensure dignity, rights, and tolerance. Together with City Bank, we aim to implement climate-resilient and community-led ‘WASH’ solutions that will improve their daily lives and sustain positive change in the long term.”
This partnership brings together Oxfam’s expertise in gender justice, climate resilience and community-led development with City Bank’s overall CSR priorities to help implement locally-driven and sustainable solutions for tea plantation communities.