The company yesterday signed an agreement to enter a CSR partnership with the hospital.

Kafil H S Muyeed, director, new business division of Grameenphone, and Kazi Rafiqul Alam, president and chief executive of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, singed the deal on behalf of their respective organisations.

Health Adviser Major General (rtd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman was present at the signing ceremony as the chief guest.

Under the deal, the Grameenphone will sponsor the development and upkeep of five wards and an operating theatre (OT) at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital now under construction.

Speaking at the function, the adviser said many companies have the ability to do something for the society. "Profit making should not be the only goal of any business," he said, suggesting 'everyone should come forward to do something for the people who are really in a backward position in our society".

"We have always said that Grameenphone works for the development and betterment of our society, with this agreement we can honestly say that we really mean what we say," said Erik Aas, the managing director of Grameenphone.

He said, "I find the efforts of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission in this field extremely commendable and am pleased to be holding hands with them on this noble venture."

Referring to the Bangladesh Cancer Society statistics, Kazi Rafiqul Alam said there are about 1crore cancer patients in Bangladesh. About 2 lakh new cancer patients are added every year and 1.5 lakh die from the disease.

Against this backdrop, the existing cancer treatment facility in Bangladesh is extremely limited and only 15,000 patients receive proper treatment every year, he said.

Under the agreement, Grameenphone will also work with the Dhaka Ahsania Mission authorities to screen the patients who are to be admitted to the five wards to ensure its proper utilisation. One third of the beds sponsored by the Grameenphone will reserved for more economically disadvantaged patients who will receive free admission and full treatment.

The rest of the disadvantaged patients who are screened will receive treatment, which will be subsidised by the Grameenphone.

Garmeenphone will also work closely with the Ahsania Mission to create necessary awareness about cancer and its risks within the country, according to the deal.