ZCZC
BSS-38
DAY-WHITE CANE
World White Cane Safety Day tomorrow
DHAKA, Oct 14, 2020 (BSS) – The World White Cane Safety Day will be observed in the country as elsewhere in the globe tomorrow.
An international conference was held in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on October 4 in 1969 by the International Blind Organization where white cane was recognized as the safety symbol for the blind people and October 15 as the World White Cane Safety Day.
Later, it was adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1975.
Maintaining that tradition, the day is being observed in Bangladesh every year as in the rest of the globe in a befitting manner by the government and non-government organizations.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted all concerned on the occasion of the World White Cane Safety Day.
In separate messages on the eve of the day, they conveyed greetings to the differently abled communities especially blind people.
In his message, the President said soon after the independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibub Rahman ensured equal rights for all citizens of the country irrespective of caste and creed under Article 28 (1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh.
On the other hand, Article 15 (4) of the Constitution guarantees the provision of social security to the sick, disabled, widows, orphans and the elderly people, the head of the state added.
“We all need to come forward socially as well as the state to ensure a healthy and normal life for the visually impaired persons,” he said.
He hoped that the World White Cane Safety Day will play a helpful role in creating awareness among the general public about the rights of visually impaired people.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Bangladesh Awami League election manifesto has also promised to improve the fate of all types of disabled people.
In order to ensure the rights of all types of persons with disabilities, including the visually impaired, the government has enacted the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013.
The premier added that the present Awami League government has set up National Disabled Development Foundation and the Disability Service and Assistance Centre to improve the overall quality of life, health, education, employment, social status, access to information for all classes of people with visual impairments.
It implemented various programmes including government allowance for cent percent disabled persons, the construction of Jatiya Protibondhi Complex ‘Subarno Bhaban’ for disabled athletes, building of separate and specialized educational institutions and training centers for students with disabilities, she said.
All these activities will be further expanded in the future, she continued.
BSS/PR/SRH/KU/2011 HRS