SCB launches healthcare and education projects in remote chars

Standard Chartered Bangladesh, in partnership with Friendship, has launched projects to bring critical healthcare and education support to some of Bangladesh's most isolated char communities.

The integrated programme is expected to positively impact nearly 100,000 people across remote regions of northern Bangladesh, addressing long-standing gaps in access to essential eye care, health services, and quality education. Through targeted interventions, thousands of children are receiving eye care support, enabling them to see clearly and perform better academically. Women are benefiting from pelvic health support, restoring dignity, improving mobility, and enhancing overall well-being. Beyond healthcare, the partnership is enabling char-based students to continue secondary education, build digital capabilities, and connect with the wider world.

Regarding the partnership, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said: "The char regions are among the most marginalised in Bangladesh, with limited access to basic health and education services. Through this partnership with Friendship, we aim to provide critical eye care to students and pelvic health support to women residing in the remote char villages of northern Bangladesh, directly reaching over 30,000 people and indirectly benefiting more than double that number. Additionally, the education project will be implemented in five hard-to-reach, char-based secondary schools in Kurigram and Gaibandha, directly impacting over 3,500 students."

Standard Chartered Bangladesh, with its implementing partners, is driving meaningful change beyond service delivery—enabling children to learn with confidence, supporting women to lead healthier and more dignified lives, and expanding horizons for young people in some of Bangladesh's most hard-to-reach char regions. By strengthening access to essential healthcare and future-ready education, the initiative is helping communities overcome isolation and build pathways to long-term resilience and opportunity.

Building on its 120-year legacy of supporting Bangladesh's progress, Standard Chartered continues to bring essential services to underserved communities. This programme is part of a broader series of sustainability and community engagement initiatives designed to strengthen not only economic conditions but also access to quality healthcare and education for communities across Bangladesh.