Our work in Bangladesh
At a glance
Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries. The majority of the country's eye care facilities are based in the big cities, but around 80% of the country's population live in rural areas, many of them living below the poverty line.
Sightsavers in Bangladesh
Sightsavers has been working in Bangladesh since 1973. We work with local partners to bring eye care within reach of the poorest communities. Together we have helped to develop services for people who are irreversibly blind, as well as ensuring children who are visually impaired get a good education.
Recent achievements
In 2006, Sightsavers' partner the National Forum of Organisations working with Disabled people were key in helping get an Action Plan for Disablility passed by government. Read more.
Latest news from Bangladesh
Find out the latest news from Bangladesh and our projects and partners there.
Including everybody in Bangladesh
Our partner ABC is helping blind people fight for their rights.
A chance of a brighter future
11-year-old Ahsanullah Mohammad, who lost his vision in early childhood after contracting measles, is an example of how Sightsavers and our partners in developing countries are trying to eliminate the inequalities that are too often related to disability.
A new future for Nizam
When six-year-old Nizam Uddin could no longer see due to cataract, his mother feared for his future...
Grameenphone supports screening on World Sight Day
Telecommunications giant Grameenphone has once again shown its commitment to Bangladesh's eye health by organising a fantastic range of events to celebrate World Sight Day in October.
Screenings, songs and strategies
Standard Chartered Bank supports the Dhaka Urban Eye Care project’s World Sight Day celebrations.
A royal visit
Sightsavers was proud to play host to the Countess of Wessex, who visited our projects in Dhaka, Bangladesh in March. The visit involved important advocacy activities to bring attention to the need to invest in eye care in Bangladesh.
Babul's story
8-year-old Babul Miah is enjoying learning thanks to an inclusive education policy at his school in Bangladesh.
Feeling the force of Cyclone Aila
Cyclone Aila has caused widespread destruction and flooding in North East India and Bangladesh. Find out how Sightsavers' partners have been badly affected, and how they are supporting victims of the storm.
The skills to pay the bills
In Bangladesh, people with visual impairments are often left behind when it comes to ICT, so Sightsavers is supporting training for 36 students of Dhaka University.
Saving sight in Bangladesh
Jainab Bibi and her husband Abal Hossain are not camera shy – and they proudly show off their matching specs! Jainab, 60, explains how they both had their eye sight restored through cataract surgery on the same day
Grameenphone gives something back
Bangladesh’s leading telecommunications service provider Grameenphone has extended its partnership with Sightsavers International for another year, by supporting free eye camps.
Spreading the word in Bangladesh
When it comes to reducing avoidable blindness, one of the main issues is a lack of public awareness. Sightsavers in Bangladesh has come up with a colourful way of spreading the word about eye care...
Behind the scenes at the Bangladesh Childhood Cataract Campaign
We talk to Dr Alamgir Hossain, programme co-ordinator for the Childhood Cataract Campaign in Bangladesh about his life and work.
Stats
Achievements in Bangladesh
Last year in Bangladesh, we supported our partners to carry out:
- The treatment of 873,057 people for sight related problems
- 72,043 cataract operations
- The screening of 186,592 people for refractive error
