Staff Reporter:
The 32nd International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 25th National Disabled Day-2023 will be observed in the country today in a befitting manner.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued sep-arate messages, greeting all people with disabilities, their families and organizations working for them.
In his message, the President said people with disabilities are inseparable part of the society.
Shahabuddin appreciated the theme of the day – ‘Protibondhi Bektider Sathe Sommilito Ongshogrohon, Nishchit Korbey SDG Orjon’ – as time-befitting.
Referring to various government programs taken for the development of the people with disabilities, Shahabuddin urged people from all strata, including local and foreign organizations and the civil society, to work together for the welfare of the people with disabilities.
He underscored the need for providing proper care and training to the people with disabilities so that they could contribute to the overall development of the country.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ensured the equal rights of all citizens, including the people with disabilities, in the Article 19 (1) of the Constitution.
She said the present Awami League-led government has taken various measures, including formulating different policies to ensure the welfare of the people with disabilities.
“People with disabilities are an integral part of our society. The overall development of the state is not possible without them,” she said.
“Therefore, to transform them into skilled manpower, our government is implementing various devel-opment programs including providing healthcare, education and training and creating employment through the National Disability Development Foundation also known as Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation under the Ministry of Social Welfare,” the premier said.
The National Disability Development Foundation Act, 2023 was passed in the 25th session of the 11th National Parliament with the aim of bringing disabled people into the mainstream of society, involving them in the country’s development work, improving their quality of life, establishing equal rights and protecting their interests and giving priority to the issue of services for disabled people and other activi-ties, she said.
As a result, it will be possible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced by the United Nations (UN) by the year 2030, she said.
She hoped that by 2041, Bangladesh will be able to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh from the position of a developing country.
She called upon the government as well as the people of all levels of society including the voluntary, local and foreign organizations concerned to work together for the overall development of people with disabilities.
The premier hoped that by overcoming all the obstacles and hindrances, all will be able to build a ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
