As many as 34 poverty-stricken patients underwent surgery free of cost at Bashundhara Eye Hospital and Research Institute (BEHRI) in the capital on Thursday.

BEHRI, an ophthalmic venture of the Bashundhara Group, in collaboration with Vision Care Foundation and Kushtia-based humanitarian organisation, Dwarka Das Welfare Society (DDWS), arranged the operations.

Under the supervision of BEHRI Director Prof Dr Md Saleh Ahmed, Dr Majumder Golam Rabbi, Dr Akter Ferdousi Jahan and Dr Tasruba Shahnaz conducted the surgery. Of the 34 patients, 21 are male and 13 are female who were suffering from cataracts.

BEHRI Public Relations Officer Faiza Rahman said the operations are aimed at protecting the poor patients from blindness.

“BEHRI in association with various stakeholders arranges eye camps in various parts of the country to provide on-the-spot treatment to impoverished people. As many as 2,757 people have so far received operations free of charge from the hospital,” she said

Earlier on February 28, BEHRI organised an eye camp at Dwarka Das Agar Wala Mohila College in Kushtia and administered treatment to 1,500 patients. Of them, 300 patients were selected for surgery of which 34 had cataract surgery on Thursday.