Don’t neglect disabled children, treat them with sympathy, asks PM
International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed on Tuesday across the country. Different government and non-government organisations held different programmes to mark the 22nd International Day of Persons with Disabilities and 15th National Disabled Day.
The theme of National Disabled Day 2013 was ‘Badh Bhango, Duar Kholo : Ekibhuto Samaj Goro’.
Addressing at a programme held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center as chief guest, prime minister Sheikh Hasina urged all not to neglect the disabled children rather to treat them with sympathy.
She said that the government has a plan to form an institution that would take care of the country’s guardian-less disabled children for life.
The prime minister said the state would act as the guardians of the guardian-less disabled children. State could not discard the disabled children who are guardian-less or whose guardians are poor.
Sheikh Hasina said it is the duty and responsibility of the state to ensure proper food, accommodation and treatment for them as well as to help them throughout their life, and the state would act upon this responsibility.
She said that since there was no credible and full-fledged information on the types of the disabled people, the work for ‘Disabled Identifying Survey’ is being conducted across the country to collect their proper information. Identity cards would be provided to all disabled persons once the survey is completed.
Finance minister AMA Muhith, state minister for social welfare Promod Mankin, Secretary Suraiya Begum and National Disabled Forum president Rajab Ali Khan Najib also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the prime minister witnessed a cultural programme presented by the persons with disability.
To mark the day, National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled held an open-air programme in front of Teacher Student Centre of Dhaka University.
To mark the day, Sanjiboni Centre for Child Development of Vatara held a rally.
Teachers, parents and students of the school joined the rally with colouful festoons and placards.
To observe the day, they also organised special programmes including street drama and cultural function.
Rallies, discussions and cultural programmes were held at different places of the country including Sylhet, Meherpur and Rajbari.
A discussion held at Faridpur District Administration Office where deputy commissioner of Faridpur Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Department of Social Services deputy director Md Shaidullah, additional deputy Commissioner Md Zahangir Hosain spoke.
Rangamati District Administration office also held a rally and discussion meeting where Rangamati Hill Tracts chairman Nikhil Kumar Chakma and deputy commissioner Md Mostafa Kamal spoke.
-With New Age input
