United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday pledged a range of steps to improve the lives of persons with disabilities, including expanding their allowances, creating employment opportunities, improving access to public services and considering reserved representation in Parliament. “We have started working, though I cannot say how much we will be able to do. But I can assure you that you will receive the highest possible cooperation from us,” he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks while speaking at an exchange of views with the Bangladesh Protibondhi Kallyan Samity at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office. He said the government will stand beside persons with disabilities and work to ensure they can live with dignity and enjoy their rights. Tarique Rahman said the government has increased the allowance for persons with disabilities to some extent, although it might not meet their full needs. “We will take initiatives to increase their allowances in the future, considering the financial capacity of the state, so that they can live somewhat more comfortably,” he said. The Prime Minister said he will instruct the relevant authorities within the next couple of days to explore the introduction of sign-language services at government offices and courts to make it easier for persons with hearing and speech impairments to communicate and access services. He said he will also ask the health ministry to consider arrangements for sign-language support at hospitals so that patients with such disabilities could explain their medical needs. Tarique Rahman directed the social welfare minister to explore ways to expand skills training, including information technology training, and create more employment opportunities for persons with disabilities so they could become economically self-reliant. He also said he will ask the education ministry to consider creating employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in educational institutions. The Prime Minister also said he will instruct the relevant authorities to examine the possibility of extending the age limit for persons with disabilities applying for government jobs by at least one or two years. On transport, he said the government will explore ways to improve access for women with disabilities on the newly introduced pink buses and consider introducing dedicated buses for persons with disabilities in Dhaka and other major cities. Tarique Rahman said instructions have already been issued to ensure accessibility facilities in building designs, adding that plans lacking such provisions would not be approved. “The instructions would apply to government buildings as well as private buildings under the relevant approval process.” He also pledged to ask the agriculture ministry to consider special support for farmers with disabilities and the statistics authorities to establish a more accurate count of persons with disabilities in the country. On their demand for representation in parliament, the Prime Minister said the issue involved constitutional considerations and required discussion within his party. If feasible, he said, the government will consider arrangements for representation by a woman and a man with disabilities. Tarique Rahman welcomed a proposal to provide legal assistance to persons with disabilities and said a memorandum of understanding has been signed among the ministries concerned to provide legal assistance to persons with disabilities. He hoped that the agreement will help advance efforts to ensure such assistance, he added. The Prime Minister said many people have not received the support and opportunities they needed, adding that both the government and society have a responsibility towards persons with disabilities and other communities requiring additional support. “You have the same right as everyone else to live with dignity,” he said, expressing hope that the government would be able to address at least some of the challenges raised at the meeting. At the programme, the Prime Minister persons with disabilities and listened to their problems and various demands. Around 30 persons with disabilities and representatives of organisations working for them spoke at the meeting, moderated by BPKS Founder and Executive Director Abdus Sattar Dulal. They raised demands for increased budgetary allocations, skills development, political participation, involvement in decision-making and expanded employment opportunities. During the meeting, a para-athlete named Mohammad Mohsin said he brought a cap as a gift for the Prime Minister. Tarique Rahman came down from the stage to receive it and assured Mohsin that he will support his team in participating in sporting events abroad. At the end of the programme, the Prime Minister joined a group photograph with the participants at their request. Social Welfare, and Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, State Minister Barrister Farzana Sharmin and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar attended the meeting.