LG electronics ties up with ICDDR,B

Employees of one of the world’s biggest TV makers LG Electronics Inc. have come up with their support for Bangladesh’s diarrhoeal patients.

The labour union of the Korea-based electronics giant has signed a MoU with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) in Dhaka.

The signing followed its $95,000 worth support to help ICDDR,B improve its treatment facilities for the diarrhoeal patients.

Of the donations, it provided $90,000 worth air-conditioners.

ICDDR, B known for its ground-breaking researches treats more than 120,000 patients a year. Majority of them are children under five years of age.

Water-borne diarrhoeal diseases are common in Bangladesh mostly due to poor sanitation and hygiene.

Vice chairman of LG Electronics Inc. Labour Union Headquarters Sang-Geol Lee and ICDDR,B’s executive director Prof John Clemens signed the agreement at the ICDDR,B auditorium.

“We are very excited at this new partnership,” executive director Prof John Clemens said.

“It is a fine example of how corporate social responsibility can support the type of public health services that we provide at the Dhaka Hospital.

“We look forward to a long-term relationship with LG, and through them with the people of South Korea,” he said.

With this signing both sides embarked on a new partnership.

The Vice Chairman Lee said the employees “carefully save their money through ‘Bank of Love’ and use that money all over the world where necessary”.

“In 2014 we decided to utilise and use those funds in Bangladesh,” he said.

South Korea is a long-standing development partner of Bangladesh.

Its cooperation that began with the garment sector in 70s expanded in other areas including rural and agricultural development, ICT and climate change impact.

Of late, it is also engaged with the health sector development programmes particularly in nursing.

Its ambassador Lee Yun Young also spoke at the function.

He said Bangladesh could follow the Korean model of development as Korea once an aid recipient country developed into a donor country.

And that, the envoy said, was possible due to its proper utilisation of human resources, foreign assistance, among other factors.