"A lot of heart patients, who even cannot afford, go to our neighbouring countries for better treatment and spend everything for themselves," the president said while he was addressing the centennial Rotary Year Launching Ceremony of Rotary International District 3280 t Sheraton Hotel.

Chaired by Governor of Rotary International District 3280 AKM Shamsuddin, the function was also addressed by Minister for Science and Information and Communications Technology Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and former Water Resources Minister Engineer LK Siddiqui.

Congratulating the Rotarian in Bangladesh and in the whole world for their individual and collective efforts to uphold the motto of Rotary -- "service above self", he said the resources and opportunities in this world are not unlimited, nor are these equally available to all.

Some of us are fortunate to have more than others and the urge to help the less privileged ones entirely on a voluntary basis propels the humanitarian activities and services to the community, he said.

Dr Iajuddin said hunger, poverty, disease, malnutrition and ignorance breed despair and in a country like Bangladesh, the journey to prosperity has to go a long way.

"The Rotarians, as social leaders, can contribute a lot and cooperate with the government in mitigating the sufferings of the have-nots and establishing a society free from hunger and poverty and I feel the Rotarian can help create opportunities for others, who need it," he added.