EBL and Friendship Enhance Health, Water Access

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has partnered with Friendship, a leading non-governmental organisation in Bangladesh, to deliver expanded healthcare services and safe drinking water to the country’s most vulnerable communities. The collaboration is part of EBL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, reflecting its commitment to social development and community resilience.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at EBL’s Dhaka head office, where Ahmed Shaheen, Additional Managing Director of EBL, handed a cheque to Runa Khan, Founder and Executive Director of Friendship, formally launching the initiative.

The partnership will operate under Friendship’s Char Surgery Access Programme, which aims to provide over 1,000 specialist surgeries in remote river island communities of northern Bangladesh. The surgical interventions include cataract operations, burn contracture repairs, prolapse correction, Achilles tendon surgery, and other essential general procedures. These services are designed to restore sight, mobility, and dignity for individuals who have limited or no access to specialised medical care.

The programme will leverage Friendship’s floating hospitals—Emirates Friendship Hospital and Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital—along with satellite clinics and trained community medic-aides, to ensure surgical care reaches even the most isolated communities.

Ahmed Shaheen highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating, “Friendship has pioneered humanitarian healthcare through its unique floating hospitals. Our collaboration will help bridge critical healthcare gaps while supporting communities in adapting to climate-related challenges.”

Runa Khan added, “This partnership addresses two urgent needs for vulnerable populations: surgical healthcare and safe drinking water. By tackling both simultaneously, we improve health outcomes, strengthen resilience, and enhance quality of life for people living at the intersection of exclusion and climate vulnerability.”

As part of the programme, EBL will fund the construction of two multi-source Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in Shyamnagar, a cyclone-prone coastal area where freshwater resources are frequently affected by salinity and climate impacts. Each plant will produce up to 1,000 litres of clean water per hour, benefiting approximately 400 families.

Partnership Overview

The signing ceremony brought together senior representatives from both organisations. Friendship was represented by Muhammed Shameem Reza (Senior Director, Legal & CFO), Kazi Amdadul Hoque (Senior Director & Head of Strategy, Planning & Climate Action), Dr. Rafi Abul Hasnath Siddique (Deputy Director – Health), and Enamul Haque (Assistant Director – Partnership Development). EBL’s attendees included Ziaul Karim (Head of Communications & External Affairs), Md. Abdullah Al Mamun (Company Secretary), Maj. Md. Abdus Salam, psc (Retd) (Head of Administration), and Md. Maskur Reza, FCA (Head of Business Information Systems).

This partnership underscores EBL’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility while reinforcing Friendship’s mission to deliver accessible healthcare and clean water to communities facing exclusion, isolation, and climate vulnerability.