A five-day international medical mission on Saturday began in Dhaka to provide free reconstructive surgeries to around 100 children with cleft lip and cleft palate from economically disadvantaged families.

Md. Ismail Zabihullah, Adviser to the Ministry of Public Administration, inaugurated the mission at Sarkari Karmachari Hospital as the chief guest.

Organised by SAJIDA Foundation in partnership with Sarkari Karmachari Hospital, Smile Asia and Dhaka Bank PLC, the initiative has brought together an international team of volunteer healthcare professionals and Bangladeshi physicians to provide specialised, quality and free reconstructive surgeries for children coming from across Bangladesh.

Senior government officials, healthcare leaders, development partners, corporate representatives and members of the international medical community joined the event to reaffirm a shared commitment to expanding access to specialised reconstructive healthcare for children.

Among the guests were Md. Ehsanul Hoque, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration; Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary, Health Services Division; Md. A. Razzak Sarkar, Director General, Government Employees Hospital; Md. Fazlul Hoque, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SAJIDA Foundation; Osman Ershad Faiz, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank PLC; and Abhimanyu Talukdar, Secretary General of Smile Asia.

The mission will run from 18 to 22 July 2026, with 38 medical professionals from eight countries working alongside Bangladeshi healthcare providers to perform cleft lip and palate surgeries. The multidisciplinary team includes plastic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, therapists and other specialists volunteering their expertise to help children eat, speak and live healthier, more confident lives.

Speaking at the inauguration, chief guest Md. Ismail Zabihullah said, “I am proud to inaugurate this noble initiative today. This mission is restoring children’s smiles, confidence, and easing their parents’ worries. It’s a reminder that humanitarian work knows no borders.”

Md. A. Razzak Sarkar, Director General of Government Employees Hospital, said, “We’re happy to collaborate once again with our partners, building on the success of last year’s mission. I thank everyone who has joined this initiative, including the medical teams who have traveled from eight countries to be here.”

Md. Fazlul Hoque, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SAJIDA Foundation, said, “Through countrywide coverage, we were able to onboard over 200 patients for this year’s mission. Health remains a priority sector for SAJIDA Foundation, and we look forward to continuing such humanitarian initiatives in partnership with the government and our partners.”

Osman Ershad Faiz, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank PLC, said, “Because of the dedication and support of all our partners, these children will receive new smiles today. Dhaka Bank is proud to stand beside this humanitarian initiative, beyond our banking operations.”

Abhimanyu Talukdar, Secretary General of Smile Asia, said, “Over the years, Smile Asia has completed more than 500 surgeries in Bangladesh and we look forward to doing even more. With volunteers from eight countries joining us this year, I’m confident this will be a successful mission.”

Cleft lip and palate remain among the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies worldwide, affecting approximately one in every 500 to 600 live births. In Bangladesh alone, more than 5,000 children are born with these conditions every year. While cleft lip and palate are highly treatable through timely surgery, thousands of children continue to live without treatment because specialised surgical services remain inaccessible for many families due to financial hardship, geographical barriers and limited availability of expert care. Left untreated, children often face difficulties with feeding, speech development, hearing and nutrition, with lasting effects on their education, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.

A call centre for Government Employees Hospital was also inaugurated during the event to strengthen patient-centred healthcare services.