Call to ensure rights of physically challenged people : DHAKA

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More than 1.5 crore physically challenged people living in the country and their rights needed to be ensured

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More than 1.5 crore physically challenged people living in the country and their rights needed to be ensured - See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-amp-rights/2013/oct/24/call-ensure-rights-physically-challenged-people#sthash.nqmC20NP.dpuf

A round-table discussion was held on Wednesday in the city with a call to ensure political and economic rights of the physically challenged to promote sustainable development alongside human rights.


The programme was also aimed at drawing attention of the two main political parties in the country so that they nominate a minimum number of the physically handicapped for the upcoming general election.


Organised jointly by a Bangla daily Samakal and Action on Disability and Development (ADD) under the aegis of German Embassy, the programme was titled “Voting rights of the physically challenged, reality and our way out” and held at Spectra Convention Centre in the capital.


The discussants said there were more than 1.5 crore physically challenged people living in the country and their rights needed to be ensured.



They observed that it was impossible to bring about an entire development of the country except excluding the 10% physically handicapped people.


They called for mass awareness of changing people’s attitude in this regard.


Former election commissioner Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain presented his keynote at the programme.


In his keynote, Sakhawat put forward a number of proposals to be implemented.



Separate queues for the physically challenged to cast their votes during election in separate voting booths that must open on the ground floor of a building, permission to use vehicles, and giving assistance to the visually impaired were also included in the proposals.



“Ramp ought to be made for them in poll centres, and braille ballot paper arranged for the visually impaired people,” he said.



Their participation should be ensured in making the country’s decisions, said Dr Syed Modasser Ali, an adviser to the prime minister.


BNP chairperson’s adviser Dr Osman Faruk said the physically challenged would be an asset of the country if they were properly trained.


The country could not be termed democratic if the physically handicapped were deprived of their rights to represent people in the Jatiyo Sangsad, said Prof Dr Syed Anwar Husain of Dhaka University.



The programme was presided over by ADD Country Director in Bangladesh Mosharraf Hossain while it was conducted by Musatfij Shafi, executive editor of Samakal, and ADD project manager M Nurunnubi.



Lawmaker Nilofar Chowdhury, David R Bean, ADD trustee in the UK and World Bank adviser and convener of City Foundation Dr Abul Hossain, among others, attended the programme.

Source : Dhaka Tribune  , 24th October 2013