Eastern Bank donates Tk 15 lakh for students’ mental wellness programme

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has partnered with Moner Bondhu, a Dhaka-based mental health service provider, to support a mental health and life skills development programme for students in remote and underserved rural communities across Bangladesh.

Under the partnership, the bank has provided a financial assistance of Tk 15 lakh to implement the programme for 5,000 students from 10 schools.

Ahmed Shaheen, additional managing director of Eastern Bank PLC, handed over a cheque for the programme to Tawhida Shiropa, founder and CEO of Moner Bondhu, at the bank’s head office in the capital recently, according to a press release.

Speaking at the event, Shaheen said, “Through this initiative, we are committed to providing students with the psychosocial support and skills training they need to thrive. This programme is about building resilience and creating opportunities for brighter futures.”

Shiropa said the initiative aims to help young people develop emotional resilience, regain confidence and remain engaged in learning through accessible counselling and psychosocial support, while preparing for a healthier and more secure future.

The initiative seeks to address the growing mental health and social challenges faced by adolescents, including emotional distress, school dropout, early marriage, abuse and limited access to future opportunities. 

Md Asif Iqbal, head of the finance and human resources department at Moner Bondhu; Sapphire Hossain Khan, project portfolio manager; Nawshaba Hridita, assistant manager for content and marketing; Ziaul Karim, head of communications and external affairs at EBL; Md Abdullah Al Mamun, company secretary; and Md Maskur, head of business information systems, were also present.