The Bangladesh Army provided free cataract surgeries at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rangpur Cantonment. Photo: BSS

 
By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, March 5, 2025 (BSS) - Four poor eye patients became emotional today as they expressed their gratitude to the Bangladesh Army for providing free cataract surgeries at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rangpur cantonment.
 
The touching scene occurred as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 66 Infantry Division and Rangpur Area Commander of Bangladesh Army Major General Mohammad Kamrul Hasan visited them after their surgeries at the CMH.
 
Commandant of the CMH Colonel Dr AKM Johirul Hossain Khan and its eye specialist Lieutenant Colonel Dr Md Murad Hossain, senior military officials and local journalists were present on the occasion.
 
Earlier, the 66 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army provided cost-free treatment to 336 eye patients, including 169 males and 167 females, at a free eye care and eye treatment camp held at Shitol Diagnostic Centre here on last February 20, said a press release.
 
Major General Mohammad Kamrul Hasan inaugurated the free eye care and treatment camp organised by the 66 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army in association with the CMH and Rangpur Medical College.
 
Five eye specialists, including three from CMH and two from Rangpur Medical College with nurses, technologists and assistants checked the eye patients, provided necessary treatments and medicines in the camp. 
 
Later, seventeen patients were selected from the camp for conducting their eye surgeries at the CMH free of cost.
 
Accordingly, eye specialist Lieutenant Colonel Dr Md Murad Hossain with his team members conducted cataract surgeries of four selected patients in the first phase at the CMH on Tuesday.
 
The four patients were Akkas Ali, 62, of Haragachh area in Kawnia upazila, Yachub Ali, 65, of village Shyampur in Sadar upazila and Meherun Nahar, 60, of village Jaigirhat in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur and Abtar Ali, 60, of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat.
 
During the visit, Major General Mohammad Kamrul Hasan talked to the four eye patients, enquired about their well-being and health condition of their eyes after conducting cataract surgeries at the CMH.
 
 All four patients expressed deep gratitude to Bangladesh Army, the GOC, CMH authority, physicians, nurses and other staff there for their relative-like behavior, affection and conducting their cataract surgeries free of cost.
 
With emotion-choked voices and tears in eyes, they wholeheartedly prayed for the well-being of every member of Bangladesh Army. 
 
When Meherun Nahar said that she did not listen well, the GOC instantly directed the CMH authority to check up her ears and provide necessary treatments too. "We will continue similar humanitarian endeavors to reach health services to the field level population," the GOC said on the occasion.
 
Talking to BSS, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Md Murad Hossain said that all four cataract surgeries were successful and the patients are in post-operative observation at the Emergency and Casualty Department of the CMH before their release.
 
Commandant of the CHM in Rangpur Colonel Dr AKM Johirul Hossain Khan told BSS that surgeries of the other selected patients will be conducted in phases after preparing them for the purpose as some of them are suffering from diabetes and other illnesses.
 
Patient Meherun Nahar, a widow and mother of three daughters, said she had no way to get treatment and surgeries of her right eye due to extreme poverty.
 
"Knowing from others, I came to the free eye care camp last February 20 in the city to check my eye. I can see now well after cataract surgery at the CMH. I thank Almighty Allah and the Bangladesh Army for this," she said.
 
Poor patient Akkas Ali, who previously earned his bread by driving an auto-rickshaw, said that he came to the free eye care camp of Bangladesh Army on last February 20 to check up his eyes. 
 
"Due to poor eyesight, I left driving the auto-rickshaw that put me in extreme poverty, too. Now, I am very happy to see everything after my cataract surgery at the CMH," he said, and thanked the Bangladesh Army and the CMH authority.