Teenaged Hasna became the lucky person on whom the one millionth eye operation under Bangladesh National Society of Blind (BNSB) was performed at Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC) here yesterday.

It took 29 years for the BNSB with its six branches in the country to achieve this distinction of achieving one million operation empowering a huge population to see the world through their own eyes.

Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was the chief guest at a grand function held at the main hospital of BNSB at Pahartali in the city to mark the one millionth eye operation.

The function, organised by BNSB, was chaired by its Chittagong District President Engineer Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury.

Rosi Gollman, founder president of Andhri Hilfe of Germany, the largest donor organisation to BNSB, Elvira Greiner, its president, Jeffry Prira of Caritas, Dr M A Gafur, secretary of BNSB Chandpur and Dr Rabiul Hossain, Managing trustee of CEITC addressed the function.

BNSB's Chittagong Eye Hospital started its initial activities in 1973 but its real journey began in 1983 on its own premises at Pahartali.

Former President Ziaur Rahman laid the foundation stone of the hospital in April 1979.

The commerce minister said service to humanity is the message of all religions. The present government would extend all support to such work for the wellbeing of mankind, he added.

"BNSB has been doing a good job which should be emulated by others in the country for the welfare of needy," the minister said and urged the wealthy people, NGOs and donors of home and abroad to come forward for humanitarian work.

Later, the commerce minister inaugurated a two-day eye relevant exhibition at Imran Hall at CEITC.