27 September 2011, London.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Chairperson and Founder of BRAC, and Dr Caroline Harper, Executive Director of Sightsavers, officially started the £1 on the Bill campaign today at the national committee meeting with leading Asian restauteurs from around the UK.
Vision Bangladesh is a ground breaking partnership between BRAC and Sightsavers – two highly respected international charities. The aim is to eradicate avoidable blindness in Sylhet by 2013 and across the whole of Bangladesh by 2020.
A simple 20 minute operation costing only £20 can change a person’s life forever.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder & Chairperson, BRAC comments: “I am so pleased to announce today the start of this innovative campaign that brings together BRAC, Sightsavers, and Britain’s leading Asian restaurants and their customers to eliminate avoidable blindness in Bangladesh by 2020.”
Dr Caroline Harper OBE, Chief Executive, Sightsavers said: “On behalf of Sightsavers, let me say how pleased we are to partner with BRAC on Vision Bangladesh to eliminate preventable blindness in Bangladesh. I am delighted to meet some of our country’s leading restaurateurs here tonight and admire your commitment to this important programme.”
The campaign will run from October 3rd for up to eight weeks in restaurants around the country. The national committee meeting was attended by Vision Bangladesh’s British-Bangladesh regional representatives covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each regional representative reported on how many restaurants had signed up for the campaign in their area. To date, the campaign has secured commitments of up to 300 restaurants with more expected to join up in the next week.
Customers at participating restaurants will be given the option of donating £1 per table at the end of their meal. Those not wishing to take part can easily opt out. It is expected that each participating restaurant will be able to raise £1,000 during October and November. 95% of funds raised will go directly to deliver the Vision Bangladesh programme in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.
Members of the publicn in UK can also donate online at: www.brac.net/visionbangladesh/direct/view/ or by a simple text message. Text BRAC20 and the amount you wish to donate (up to £10) to 70070 (e.g your text could read BRAC20 £10).
In the photo:
Back row from left to right:
Councillor Prince Sadik Chaudhury
Mokhtar Hossain Khokon
M. R. M. Choudhury
Shabbir Ahmed Choudhury
Syed Siddik Ali
Tipu Rahman
Dobir Miah
Abdus Salam
Dr. Wali Tasar Uddin
Ruhi Ahad
Rtn. Abdul Latif JP
Naz Islam
Manchob Ali JP
Councillor Abdul Harid
Azizur Rahman
Muzahid Khan
Mr. Hasan
Mr. Muzahid
Surrey replacement
Akikur Rahman
Hafizur Rahman
Shah F. Athar
Abdul Malek
Rokib Ali
Jessica Merton
Front row from left to right
Penelope Mawson
Susan Davis
Caroline Harper
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed
Simone Sultana
Mary Garvey
Tanha Habib
Tanvir Ahamed
