Eastern Bank, icddr,b renew deal for biohazardous waste management initiative

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) and icddr,b have renewed their partnership for the third consecutive year, reaffirming their joint commitment to improving public health and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh.

As part of the partnership, the bank provided financial assistance to icddr,b under the existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the former’s head office in Dhaka yesterday, according to a press release.

Ahmed Shaheen, additional managing director of Eastern Bank PLC, handed over project funding cheques to Asadulghani, head of the Biosafety Unit for Phase III of the Biohazardous Waste Management programme at icddr,b, and Md Al Fazal Khan, head of the Matlab Health Research Centre, to support icddr,b’s Matlab Hospital.

Under Phase III of the Best Practices in Sustainable Solid Biohazardous Waste Management initiative, EBL will continue funding the programme in 2026.

The new phase will focus on strengthening institutional capacity, operational systems and national coordination to ensure the safe and sustainable management of biohazardous waste across healthcare facilities nationwide.

The initiative will also support knowledge and technology transfer and help government health facilities implement updated national guidelines.

In parallel, EBL is extending CSR support to icddr,b’s Matlab Hospital, which provides free treatment to thousands of patients annually and plays a vital role in maternal, child and diarrhoeal care.

Armana Ahmed, head of fund development at icddr,b; Naser Azad, manager of donor relations; Laila Farzana, coordinator of development; Md Abdullah Al Mamun, company secretary of the bank; and Md Maskur Reza, head of business information systems, among others, were also present.