Bangladesh will observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday aiming to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of the people with special needs. This year the day's theme is ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.' President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday issued separate messages on the occasion of the 31st international day and 24th national day of persons with disabilities. The president in his message said the people with disabilities are an integral part of society. It is not possible to achieve the overall success of sustainable development goals by excluding them, he said. “In order to exploit the talent and skills of the people with disabilities for the country’s development, it is absolutely necessary to provide them with proper care and training,” said Hamid, adding that the government is very serious about their welfare and their inclusion in the mainstream of development. Read more: Work together for inclusive, sustainable world for all: UN He appreciated the government’s initiatives to provide them with allowances, education stipends, integrated disability education programmes, therapy services and construction of sports complexes under the social safety net. “I hope that all concerned will be more sincere in facilitating the welfare of the people with disabilities and their participation in development activities,” he said. He extended his greetings and congratulations to all the people with special needs in the country, their families, organisations and agencies working for their welfare. The president urged the concerned private institutions, charity, local and foreign organizations and civil society alongside the government to come forward for ensuring their participation in various family and social events for the mental development of the differently-abled people and to improve their lives. In her message the prime minister extended her sincere greetings and congratulations to all the people with special needs staying in Bangladesh and the entire world. She urged the people from all stages of the society and the charity, local and international organisations to work together alongside the government for the overall development of the persons with disabilities. “The Awami League government is determined to engage the people with disabilities in development activities,” she said.  Hasina said her daughter Saima Wazed Putul has been working tirelessly to improve the life of the people with special needs in the world including Bangladesh. “We’ll make the future world a welfare one for people with disabilities or special needs, where they would get an easier life thanks to the development of new technologies,” she said. She said the promise of improving the life of the people with disabilities was made in the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League. “People with disabilities are an integral part of our society. The overall development of the state is not possible without them,” said the PM focusing on her government’s programmes for the welfare of the differently-abled people. In order to transform them into skilled manpower, the government has been implementing many development programmes on different issues including providing healthcare, education and training and creating employment through the National Disabled Development Foundation under the Social Welfare Ministry, she said. The PM said they launched a total of 103 disability service and assistance centres in 64 districts and 39 upazilas of the country to provide one-stop service to people with disabilities and autism. She said the government is conducting activities through 45 mobile rehabilitation therapy vans with the aim of reaching the doorsteps of the people with disabilities in remote areas. The PM said the government is running 74 intellectually disabled and 12 special schools for children with autism across the country to open the way for the education of the disabled children. Read more: Int’l Youth Day: TIB for suitable environment to utilise youths for development As a symbol of empowerment of disabled people, her government constructed a 15-storied Multipurpose Disabled Complex (Suvarna Bhaban) at a cost of some Tk 100 crores in Mirpur, Dhaka, she said. The prime minister said an international standard sports complex is under construction in Savar on the outskirts of the capital at a cost of some Tk 447 crore to motivate the disabled people in sports and cultural activities. The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution.  

State Minister for Social Welfare Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru has urged the non-government development organizations to have greater coordination with relevant government agencies in implementing their programmes for the socio-economic development of the persons with disabilities. “The government of Bangladesh and development organisations are working for the overall development of the persons with disability. But we sometimes see a lack of coordination among them. I expect you will have greater coordination among you in implementing your programmes,” he said. Also read: UN honours 2 Bangladeshi fallen peacekeepers The state minister was speaking at the launching of CBM Global Disability Inclusion in Bangladesh at Banani Club on Thursday afternoon as the chief guest. Director General of NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) KM Tariqul Islam, Convenor of CSO Alliance Rasheda K Choudhury, Founder Trustee of Impact Foundation Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, and INGO Forum representative Hasin Jahan spoke at the event as the special guests. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said all must realize the rights of all persons with disabilities, including persons with autism, ensuring their full participation in social, cultural and economic life to truly leave no one behind in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. "Let us work together with all persons with disabilities and their representative organizations to find innovative solutions to recover better and build a better world for all," he said in a message marking the World Autism Awareness Day that falls on April 2. Also read: Researchers 'successfully test' drug for children with autism Guterres said as they work together to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, one key goal must be to build a more inclusive and accessible world that recognizes the contributions of all people, including persons with disabilities. He said the crisis has created new obstacles and challenges. "But efforts to reignite the global economy offer an opportunity to reimagine the workplace to make diversity, inclusion and equity a reality." Also read: 50,500 children with autism in country: Zahid Maleque Guterres said recovery is also a chance to rethink the systems of education and training to ensure that persons with autism are afforded opportunities for realizing their potential.   "Breaking old habits will be crucial. For persons with autism, access to decent work on an equal basis requires creating an enabling environment, along with reasonable accommodation," he said.  

With current Covid-19 pandemic flaring up across 210 countries in the world, millions of poor people are already affected and more so in the developing world.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel on Thursday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allocated land near Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the city to build an international standard complex for adaptive sports.

Dozens of persons with disabilities on Sunday participated in a wheelchair marathon in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern of Gaza Strip, as the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.