Prime Minister Moves to Address Demands of Persons with Disabilities

Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has said everyone in society has the right to live with dignity. He said his government stands beside persons with special needs and others who need special attention and support. He said he did not only listen to the problems of persons with special needs after forming the government. He also talked with them and heard their problems before that.

The Prime Minister said the government has raised the allowance for persons with special needs a little since it took office. He said it will try to raise the allowance further in the future, depending on the government’s financial strength. He said this yesterday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, while exchanging views with the Bangladesh Protibondhi Kallyan Samity. Mr. Abdus Sattar Dulal, founder and executive director of the Samity, hosted the event.

Thirty persons with disabilities and representatives of disability organizations spoke at the event. They placed their various demands and problems before the Prime Minister. He listened to them closely and accepted several demands on the spot. The speakers demanded a bigger share of the national budget for persons with disabilities. They also asked for skill development, political participation, a role in decision making and more job chances.

The speakers especially stressed hiring sign language interpreters in government offices, hospitals and courts. The Prime Minister promised quick and effective steps to hire sign language interpreters in courts and hospitals. Persons with disabilities who want to work in agriculture demanded proper help from local administration. The Prime Minister assured them that he would give instructions to the ministry concerned.

The speakers also asked to relax the age limit for jobs for persons with disabilities. The Prime Minister promised to consider this. They demanded easy and disability friendly public transport. The Prime Minister promised to start such a system at least in the big cities. He also promised effective steps on the demand for job chances in educational institutions.

The Prime Minister said most demands at the event were about training. He said he would instruct the authorities concerned to ensure suitable and effective training for persons with disabilities. Mr. Md. Mohsin, an athlete with a disability, said he had brought a cap as a gift for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister came down from the stage and took it. He also promised to help Mr. Mohsin’s team take part in sports events abroad.

After the event, the speakers asked the Prime Minister to join a group photo, and he did. Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain, State Minister Ms. Farzana Sharmin and the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Mr. A B M Abdus Sattar also spoke at the event.