Call for equal opportunities for people with disabilities

7 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Children with disabilities perform at a cultural programme at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi in the city yesterday to mark the 12th National Disability Day.Photo: STAR

Hundreds of children, including those with disabilities and autism, took part in a cultural programme at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi in the city yesterday to mark the 12th National Disability Day. The event was jointly organised by Disability Rights Watch Group and the Jatiya Protibondhi Forum. The people with disabilities still face discrimination in their everyday lives, speakers at the event said and called on the government to take steps so that they receive equal opportunities in education, workplaces and everywhere else in life. They also stressed the need for initiatives to make it easier for children with disabilities and autism to receive higher education like everyone else. Speaking as a special guest, Secretary of the social welfare ministry Quomaran Nessa Khanam said the government would take initiatives to make the disability welfare act progressive and forward-looking, prioritising the needs of the people with disabilities. She also gave assurance that steps would be taken to effectively implement various developments activities and projects initiated for the welfare of people with disability. Noted jurist Barrister Amirul Islam and Barrister Tania Amir were also present at the event. The Institute of Education and Research of Dhaka University also marked the day with two-day elaborate programmes. On the first day yesterday, a discussion was held at Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Auditorium of Teacher-Student Centre (TSC). DU Vice Chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Jatiya Protibondhi Forum President Khandokar Jahurul Islam, Sight Savers International Country Director Dr Wahidul Islam and Vice President of Inclusion Initiatives for Special Needs-Bangladesh Abuzzoha Noor spoke at the discussion. Rallies, bulletin board launching and a film festival will be held on the DU campus today. The first Wednesday of April is observed as the National Disability Day in the country.