In the face of Cyclone Mocha's imminent threat, Banglalink took swift action to protect its customers. Deploying 4G resources and dedicated ground employees, we ensured uninterrupted connectivity, keeping people connected during the storm's fury. Our commitment to safety extended further as we developed an early warning system, designed to assist and protect those trapped in the cyclone's path.
As communication was paramount, updates were efficiently disseminated through the MyBL app, catering to smartphone users, and also through Banglalink social channels. For those with standard phones, we relayed essential information via SMS.
In response to the devastating earthquake in Turkey, Banglalink distributed warm clothes and sleeping bags among the victims in the quake-hit areas.
To enable our valued users to stay connected with their loved ones in Turkey and Syria during this difficult time, we offered offering free ISD calls to these countries.
This initiative emphasized the importance of going beyond borders during such a catastrophic event. Our commitment to being a socially responsible company extends across borders, showing solidarity with the victims amid these challenging circumstances.
Cyclone Sitrang left a trail of destruction in some areas of Bangladesh in mid-2022 when thousands of distressed and homeless families urgently needed food aid. In response, Banglalink in collaboration with Bidyanondo Foundation distributed relief goods in the affected areas and supported 6,500 families nationwide.
Veon (Banglalink’s parent company) Group CEO Kaan Terzioğlu accompanied by Banglalink CEO Erik Aas visited UCEP School in Mirpur recently. Banglalink provided UCEP Bangladesh students with free internet packages to help them continue their e-learning. The initiative enabled them to access online classes, digital content, online meeting, e-professional teachers’ group, class e-monitoring, education-related websites, and information about life skills and soft skills curriculum.
Banglalink provides free talk-time and data in the flood-affected Sylhet region. Each prepaid customer to get 10 min talk-time and 100 MB for free.
Banglalink has inaugurated a digitally equipped advanced Learning Centre for its employees at its Head Office, Dhaka. It will provide the learners with enhanced learning experiences through both hybrid and traditional learning facilities.
The Banglalink IT Incubator, a collaboration between the ICT Ministry, BHTPA, and Banglalink, aims to find and nurture innovative enterprises. On the 30th of September, 2021, a get-together was held for the cohort of IT Incubator at Software Technology Park, Janata Tower at Kawran Bazar in Banglalink Incubator's floor to discuss the sustainability of startup economy and the way forward, while strictly adhering to the Covid19 protocols. The program was graced by Honorable Planning Minister, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan MP, State Minister for ICT Division, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, and Managing Director, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, Mr. Bikorno Kumar Ghosh along with other dignitaries.
Banglalink partnered with Sena Kalyan Sangstha and Bidyanondo Foundation to provide aid to about 30,000 households across several locations in support of COVID-19 and flood-affected individuals. Rice, beans, oil, semolina, sugar, salt, bar soap, and oral saline were distributed to each affected home.
Banglalink launched the third edition of “Ennovators”, a competition for innovative youngsters aspiring to become successful future professionals. The competition was launched as a part of Banglalink’s initiative to empower promising youngsters by inspiring them to innovate and enhance their professional skills.
Banglalink launched the pilot of “Learn from the Start-ups”- a platform to equip and educate students on the entrepreneurial mind-set and motivate them to think outside of the box. The insights and learning acquired from the successful completion of the pilot program helped to revamped “Learn from the Startups 2.0". The program is more relevant to the students and has greater impact for the startups.
Banglalink Head office, Tigers Den, Dhaka has now been certified for Green Office Initiative with a score of 70.2%. It is the first company in Bangladesh to receive the WWF Green Office Certification.
Bangladesh’s first ICT incubator under public- private partnership was launched in 2016. Designed to identify and grow innovative ventures, it is a joint initiative of the government and mobile phone operator Banglalink. Around 400 teams participated in the national contest for connecting startups, with ten winners winning access to a high-spec office space facility, mentoring, access to Banglalink customers for a year; allowing them to accelerate their growth while making use of an inspiring co-working environment.
Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd, with the support of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society completed relief distribution to the affected people of the Bandarban and Rangamati.
Banglalink has come up with a brilliant new model that is a first for Bangladesh. This campaign has a primary and a secondary motive, and they feed one another coherently, eliminating two major problems by turning one of them into a solution for another! The two main problems facing our country, or any country in the world for that matter, is protecting the environment and protecting the children, for a cleaner, safer and better future. But how does one do both with one campaign Ask Banglalink. There are hundreds of corporate campaigns running across the nation at any given time. They require thousands of billboards for the publicity of these campaigns. And once these individual campaigns are over, the printed sheets on which these campaign creatives are printed are stripped down and dumped in landfills or worse, burnt.
Neither is good for the environment. These non-biodegradable plastic flex sheets are either rotting away in landfills or releasing toxic fumes into the air after being burnt, the same air that we breathe. Banglalink takes care of this problem by recycling these sheets and turning them into school bags school children!
The campaign started on the 19th of February, 2013 in Ashulia at the Jamgora Primary High School, where 600 students received school bags from Banglalink. One such student is Rumana, thirteen years old, who is currently raising her two younger siblings. Rumana comes from extreme poverty, and is raised by a single parent. Whatever money is earned by her rickshaw-puller father is barely enough to meet the very basic needs of her family. For Rumana, being able to school, itself is a big deal, let alone being able to afford a school bag. Every day Rumana runs from home to school with her books held tightly under her arms. And every day Rumana runs home from school so she has time to take care of her younger siblings, with her books and everything else held under her arms.
"I have to run for at least 40 minutes before I can get home, and my arms are numb by then from holding on to my books. Once my books got wet in the rain and my father was angry. We could not afford to buy new books."
Now that Rumana has a bag, things are a little easier. Maybe all her problems are not taken care of, and she certainly does not have the perfect life. But she knows her books are safe, from getting wet, blown away, stolen etc. She no longer has to be afraid about losing her books and not being able to afford new ones. But most importantly she doesn't have to go to school and nurse a painful arm as well. She can go to school and concentrate only on her education and future, like all other students. Today, Rumana is truly happy. Rumana runs back home, her new school bag flung behind her back, holding her books and all the hopes and dreams about her future.
The future of the country certainly looks bright when its corporates invent new ways to protect the environment and make sure the children have a firm and decent education. Initially Banglalink has armed themselves with 15,000 of these bags, with plans to distribute them among disadvantaged school children among all 7 divisions.
This bag distribution campaign is a first of its kind in Bangladesh. Not only is it addressing the issues of the needs of the lesser privileged, it is also making efficient use of what otherwise would have caused harm to our environment and our country.
While a school bag does not take care of every problem that a disadvantaged child has, it is still a ray of hope, and a tangible thing tying this student to education. The firm education of these children is the only route to a better future for the country.
The holy month of Ramadan gives people a chance to rebuild oneself spiritually. Banglalink, as a responsible corporate entity, initiates a number of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities during this holy month. Banglalink cares about the people who fast in the scorching weather and feel empathy with their condition.
The traffic jams are an all too familiar scenario within the major metros of Bangladesh, when thousands of people wait patiently in the heat to unite with their family members, to have Iftar together. During this month, traffic jams are inevitable; hence Banglalink conducts various activities during Ramadan to assist those who are stuck in traffic jams. As the time closes in for Iftar, Banglalink arranges to provide weary Rozadar with water and Dates to break their fast.
Banglalink runs this project for the entire month of Ramadan every year, in massive scale and prominence. It is a simple, affectionate and a humble way of putting a smile on peoples’ faces. The company believes this to be the true spirit of Ramadan – and like previous years, Banglalink will again be distributing bottled water and dates during Iftar time, in most of the major traffic intersections of the major metros.
Free bottled water and dates before Iftar will also be available from Banglalink branded booths in identified heavy traffic locations of divisional cities and a few prominent cities during the first twenty days of Ramadan. There is a plan to initiate such booths in popular shopping hubs during the last ten days of Ramadan too. It is expected that approximately 84,000people who are fasting and trapped in the heated traffic during Iftar time, will be provided with water and dates to break their fast. This CSR activity of distributing dates and bottled water to the pedestrian, passengers and people from all walks of life, who are heading home for Iftar - is the most popular and effective activity during the Ramadan.
Another CSR activity that is very close to the heart of Banglalink is - during this time the company provides Iftar and dinner to approximately 12,000 orphaned children of 128orphanages, from 32 districts across the country. Iftar and dinner are prepared by experienced chefs at the orphanage premises. The orphaned children feel very happy to get this surprising and hearty feast from Banglalink. This initiative remains very close to the heart of the company.
Shihab Ahmad, Chief Commercial Officer, Banglalink mentioned, "Ramadan is for most of us, about being close to family and friends, loved and closed ones; we need to think about those amongst us who are less fortunate enough not to have these great gifts of family and friends. There is no better feeling than helping others by choosing activities that makes a difference in their lives."