The World Autism Awareness Day will be observed in Bangladesh on Saturday with a pledge to bring the people suffering from autism and other physical disabilities into the mainstream of development.

The theme of this year's day is: ‘Make such a world: explore the talents of people with autism’.

The United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the needs for enhanced initiatives of all to improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder.

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The Ministry of Social Welfare will organise a programme at the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the morning on this occasion, according to a notification of the ministry issued on Thursday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to join the programme virtually.

This year, the day will be celebrated across the country through colorful programmes. Special supplements will be published in daily newspapers on this occasion.

In honor of people with autism, the Ministry of Social Welfare and its affiliated departments, various institutions and important government buildings will be decorated with blue lights.

In addition, road-branding, special memorabilia and leaflets have been printed to create awareness about autism.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing the overall success of all the programmes taken on the occasion of the 15th World Autism Awareness Day.

In his message, Hamid said People with autism are not a burden to society and it is possible to turn them into skilled human resources through proper education, training, guidance and inspiration.

“In order to build a prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’, everyone has to work hard for the children and individuals who are at risk of Autism,” he said.

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the government has already provided many services both using technology and in-person for the welfare of people with autism such as forming the Neuro-Developmental Disability (NDD) Protection Trust.

Two applications called 'Bolte Chai' and 'Autism Barta' have been created to provide assistance to autistic people, she added.

The prime minister hoped that children and adolescents with autism will be grown up through the right care, education, training, and affection, so that they could be an asset to the family, society, and the state.