Our work in Bangladesh
In 2023, Sightsavers celebrated 50 years working in Bangladesh. Since 1973, we’ve helped to diagnose and treat hundreds of thousands of people to protect their sight.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, yet it has one of the highest rates of untreated cataracts worldwide.
Extreme poverty and a lack of awareness about health issues mean more than half a million people are thought to be blind as a result of cataracts.
Our work in Bangladesh focuses on screening people to diagnose eye problems, providing sight tests to check for refractive error, and supporting cataract operations to restore vision. We also help to train volunteer community health workers, and run inclusive programmes to make sure people with disabilities have equal access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
In 2023, Sightsavers Bangladesh celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark the milestone, Sightsavers CEO Caroline Harper and staff from the country were joined by guests at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
Watch our video below to find out about more about our work in the country.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
How we’re making a difference in Bangladesh
Treating cataracts
Arif received Sightsavers-funded cataract surgery as a young child. Fifteen years later we caught up with Arif, now working as a driver, to see how his life was transformed.
Read Arif'story
Disability rights
As part of the Inclusive Futures initiative, we're working with BBC Media Action to train journalists to change the way people with disabilities are portrayed.
Read about the project
Reaching everyone
People with disabilities often miss out on health care in Bangladesh. Meet Jalil and Ayesha, who travel house to house, to ensure everyone gets the support they need.
Read their story
Your donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from Bangladesh
Sightsavers Bangladesh marks 50-year anniversary
Sightsavers began working in Bangladesh in 1973 to diagnose and treat people for cataracts, which is one of the most common eye conditions in the country.
“Now I know what a gift sight is”
Arif’s life changed when he had two cataract operations at five years old. We've been following his journey since then, from completing his education to finding work as a driver.
It started with a tuk-tuk: Shamima’s story
Shamima, who has hearing and speech impairments, was able to access vital treatment after her sister heard about Sightsavers’ free eye camps.
“Now we can get the help we need”
In Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Right to Health project worked with transgender communities to remove the barriers they face when accessing inclusive eye health services.
“Every day is women’s day when you cherish women’s dignity”
Asma is project manager for Sightsavers’ inclusive eye health project in Bangladesh, which is breaking down the barriers women face when accessing eye care services.
Eye care and COVID-19: what we’ve learned during the pandemic
Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been to restart our work quickly and safely. Sightsavers staff reveal our how eye care programmes have evolved in the past 18 months.
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