Erik Aas, managing director of Grameenphone Ltd, and Hosne Ara Begum, managing director of Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha, an NGO, exchange documents after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Dhaka yesterday. Under the MoU, the mobile phone operator will set up a blood bank in a hospital in Bogra that is run by the NGO. Dr ASM Matiur Rahman, health ministry adviser, and Kafil HS Muyeed, director of New Business Division of Grameenphone, are also seen.Photo: STAR

Leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone Ltd will set up a blood bank in Rafatullah Community Hospital in Bogra to ensure safe and hygienic blood transfusion mainly for underprivileged patients.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed yesterday in Dhaka between the cellphone operator and Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), a non-government organisation led by women that runs the hospital.
Erik Aas, managing director of the mobile phone company, and Hosne Ara Begum, managing director of TMSS, signed the MoU, while Dr ASM Matiur Rahman, health ministry adviser, and Kafil HS Muyeed, director of New Business Division of Grameenphone, were present.
Matiur Rahman thanked the cellphone company for undertaking such project as a commitment to corporate social responsibility and urged the young generation to donate blood.
The adviser said the annual demand for blood is between 3 and 3.5 lakh bags in the country, and it is not possible to meet the demand without raising awareness among people to donate blood voluntarily.
"In recent times voluntary blood donation has increased to 20 percent, while blood donation by professional donors has fallen to below 10 percent, which is a good sign for ensuring safe blood transfusion," he said.