The 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited (BAT Bangladesh) was held on Wednesday, said a statement.
To avoid public gathering during drastic times of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Security Exchange Commission directed BATB to use digital platform for the AGM.
Golam Mainuddin, Chairman of BAT Bangladesh presided over the meeting. The meeting was attended by a significant number of shareholders from remote areas of the country and abroad by using digital platforms.
At the AGM, five key decisions were taken by shareholders unanimously. These are: Financial Statement of 2019, Election of the Board of Directors, appointment of statutory auditors, appointment of corporate governance auditors, and approval of 400 per cent cash dividend per share. The board has also exchanged their views with shareholders.
Under the current circumstances of the Corona-fueled lockdown period, timely payment of dividends is considered as a significant achievement to the shareholders.
In 2019, the company has contributed Tk. 26,985 crore as Value Added Tax or VAT, supplementary duty and other taxes to the national exchequer, making BAT Bangladesh the highest taxpayer in the country.
In addition, various initiatives of the company e.g. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR projects), gender equality practice, sustainable agriculture initiatives have been contributing towards achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), different national goals and making a balance for a better Bangladesh.
Shehzad Munim, Managing Director of BAT Bangladesh, Board of Directors comprising of Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, K. H. Masud Siddiqui, A. K. M. Aftab Ul Islam FCA, Md. Abdul Halim, Md. Abul Hossain, Tahmina Begum, Stephan Matthiesen, and Head of Public Affairs & Company Secretary Md. Azizur Rahman, FCS were present at the 47th AGM.
