City Bank, Oxfam team up for safer water, sanitation in tea gardens

City Bank PLC has entered into a partnership with Oxfam in Bangladesh to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for underserved tea garden communities through climate-resilient solutions.

Mashrur Arefin, managing director and CEO of the bank, and Anil Pant, interim country director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, signed the agreement at a ceremony held at City Bank Center in Dhaka yesterday, according to a press release.

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At the event, Mashrur said access to safe water and sanitation is fundamental to health and dignity.

“This partnership brings together two of City Bank’s key CSR priorities -- women and the environment -- to deliver practical, climate-resilient solutions that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of tea garden communities,” he added.

Anil said, “Women tea workers are at the heart of Bangladesh’s tea industry, yet many tea garden communities still face persistent gaps in safe water and sanitation, compounded by growing climate risks.”

“This partnership is about more than infrastructure; it is about dignity, rights and resilience.”

“With City Bank, we aim to support climate-resilient, community-led WASH solutions that improve everyday life and enable communities to sustain change for the long term,” he added.

The partnership brings together City Bank’s broader CSR priorities with Oxfam’s experience in gender justice, climate resilience and community-led development, supporting locally owned and sustainable solutions for tea garden communities, the release added.

Among others, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, additional managing director and chief executive officer of the bank; Kazi Azizur Rahman, additional managing director and chief information officer; Shahriar Jamil Khan, head of brand and marketing; Mahmuda Sultana, programme management adviser of Oxfam in Bangladesh; and Halima Akhter Mitu, head of finance, risk and compliance, were also present.