Barishal peoples desk: December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Declared by the United Nations since 1992, this day is being observed worldwide. The day is celebrated in Bangladesh through various programs every year with the aim of uplifting the status of persons with disabilities, protecting of their rights, raising awareness about disability, and ensuring improvement. The long-stuck decision surrounding the day on Thursday is about to be implemented. The official announcement to transform the National Disability Development Foundation into a department may come this month. Today is the 29th International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 22nd National Day of Persons with Disabilities. The theme of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is ‘Involve people with disabilities in the context of Covid-19, build a new sustainable world’. On the occasion of the day, President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages. In his message, the President said that people from all walks of life should be sincere in coming forward to meet the special needs of the people with disabilities and protect their rights. Remember, people with disabilities are part of our society. They are also able to contribute in various fields of society if they get proper services, treatment, education, training and support materials. The Prime Minister said in her message that the disabled are not a burden of the nation but an asset. The government is committed to building a prosperous nation by improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities by involving them in various activities as an integral part of society. To this end, the government is implementing various development plans to ensure equal rights for the disabled, empowerment, education, training, employment, disability-friendly public building, etc., he said, adding that disability allowance, disability education stipend, integrated education activities and other activities including disability service and help center. Through the government is accelerating the development of persons with disabilities. Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has ensured equal rights of all people of the state including persons with disabilities in the constitution of Bangladesh. The 29th International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 22nd National Day of Persons with Disabilities have been postponed this year due to the Covid-19 situation. However, talk shows, discussions and supplements have been published in electronic and print media highlighting the significance of the day. Regarding the transformation of the National Disability Development Foundation into a directorate, Social Welfare Secretary Mohammad Zainul Bari said, “I have taken an initiative to make it a directorate.” It will be resolved within this month. He said the government is considering it. We are working on it, I hope it will be done very soon, said the government official. “We usually provide training to the disabled, as well as provide loans,” he said. Although the government has increased the old age and widow allowance to Tk 500, the disability allowance is being given to the disabled at Tk 650. He said the lives of the disabled will no longer depend on allowances alone. The allowance is a support, we are building them through training. The secretary said there are institutes in every district town. Training is given through the Department of Social Services. People with disabilities are trained and given loans in rural areas. It may be mentioned that in 2010, the Ministry of Social Welfare sent a proposal to the Ministry of Public Administration to transform the Disability Development Foundation into a full-fledged department. Since then, it has not seen the light of day due to various complications.

আইন-আদালত, আন্তর্জাতিক, বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তি, লিড নিউজ