HSBC Bangladesh CEO Mr Steve Banner speaking at the opening of the HSBC Red Crescent Thalassaemia Research Centre

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd in Bangladesh in conjunction with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Chittagong District Unit inaugurated the first HSBC Red Crescent Thalassaemia Centre at a ceremony at the Red Crescent premises in Chittagong on Monday, 12 June 2006.

HSBC Bangladesh has been in operation for almost 10 years and since the beginning we have tried to give back to the community in which we operate through our various initiatives such as the School of Hope which provides education to the slum kids of Gulshan and Badda, HSBC Prothom Alo Language Competition which teaches students about the language, Celebrating the last 100 years of Bengali music through a musical programme, World Environment Day cleaning efforts and many others.

The HSBC Group, with over 9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories and assets of US$1,502 billion at 31 December 2005, is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. As part of being environment friendly, each year the HSBC Group opts out of printing greeting cards for various special occasions. The amount saved as a result of this, is then provided to various charitable causes. HSBC Group donated BDT4.2 million from part of the amount saved in building this center.

Thalassaemia is an inherited disease of the red blood cells whereby the blood cells become vulnerable to mechanical injury and die easily. To survive, many people with thalassemia need blood transfusions at regular intervals. Approximately 3-8 % of the populations from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China suffer from this disease.

The HSBC Red Crescent Thalassaemia Centre, in addition to providing much needed blood transfusion facilities in the port city will also try and raise awareness about this issue and perform research into this field of medicine.

Mr Advocate Harun-Al-Rashid, MP attended the opening as Chief Guest. Also present on the occasion as special guest were Mr Steve Banner, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bangladesh, and MR A S M Akram, Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. Other senior officials from HSBC Bangladesh and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Chittagong District, local dignitaries were also in attendance.