EBL Renews Eye Care Partnership

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has renewed its partnership with Bangladesh Eye Trust Hospital (BETH) to continue providing essential eye care services for disadvantaged communities across Bangladesh. The renewed collaboration aims to expand access to quality treatment for patients who cannot afford medical care, particularly those suffering from preventable or treatable vision impairment.

According to a press statement, the initiative forms part of EBL’s corporate social responsibility efforts to support public health and community welfare. Through this programme, the bank will finance a range of medical services for underprivileged patients receiving treatment at BETH’s modern facility located on Satmosjid Road in Dhaka.

The support will cover comprehensive eye care services including diagnostic screenings, cataract surgeries, patient transportation and meals during treatment. These services are designed to ensure that individuals from remote and low-income communities can receive specialised eye care without facing financial or logistical barriers.

The partnership renewal was formally marked at a ceremony held recently at EBL’s head office in Dhaka. At the event, Ziaul Karim, Head of Communications and External Affairs at Eastern Bank PLC, handed over a cheque to Dr. Niaz Abdur Rahman, Managing Director of Bangladesh Eye Trust Hospital, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Ziaul Karim said that Bangladesh Eye Trust Hospital has been playing a vital role in delivering humanitarian eye care services across the country. He noted that the hospital’s work has helped thousands of people regain their eyesight and return to normal life.

He added that EBL is proud to support such initiatives as part of its responsibility to contribute to social development. According to him, restoring vision is not only a medical intervention but also a means of empowering individuals and families by enabling them to regain independence and improve their livelihoods.

Dr. Niaz Abdur Rahman expressed appreciation for the continued support from Eastern Bank PLC. He said the hospital’s mission is to ensure that no individual loses the gift of sight due to financial hardship. With sustained corporate partnerships, the hospital has been able to extend quality eye care services to thousands of underprivileged patients each year.

He further explained that cataracts remain one of the leading causes of blindness in many developing countries, yet the condition is treatable through relatively simple surgical procedures. Programmes such as this partnership help ensure that patients who cannot afford surgery still receive the treatment they need.

The main components of the initiative include the following services:

Among those present at the ceremony were Dr. Mahziba Rahman Chowdhury, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Bangladesh Eye Trust Hospital, and M. Kamrul Islam Shanzeed, General Manager of the hospital. Representatives from Eastern Bank PLC included Major Md. Abdus Salam (Retired), Head of Administration, and Md. Maskur Reza, Head of Business Information Systems.

Healthcare experts note that partnerships between financial institutions and medical organisations can play an important role in expanding healthcare access. By combining corporate resources with medical expertise, initiatives like this help reduce preventable blindness and improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Through the renewed partnership, Eastern Bank PLC and Bangladesh Eye Trust Hospital aim to continue restoring vision and hope for thousands of people across the country who otherwise might remain deprived of essential eye care.