RAJSHAHI, Dec 4, 2020 (BSS) – Speakers at a discussion said the people with special needs should be given some additional privileges for their proper rehabilitation and family integration.
They viewed holistic and collective efforts of both the public and private organisations have become an urgent need for ensuring their fundamental rights which are keys to their social dignity.
Terming the challenged people as an integral part of the society, the speakers put emphasis on mainstreaming them through creating a friendly atmosphere for people with disabilities. The physically challenged people should never be adjudged as burden of the society.
Rajanigandha Protibandhi Unnayan Sangstha (RPUS) organised the discussion at Primary Teachers Training Institute auditorium in observance of the 29th International and the 22nd National Day of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday afternoon.
Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton addressed the meeting as the chief guest, while city unit vice-president of Bangladesh Awami League Shaheen Akter Rainy spoke as special guest with RPUS President Asaduzzaman Choudhury Russel in the chair.
Ward Councilor of Rajshahi City Corporation Ruhul Amin, former banker Ariful Haque and Director of Sapura Silk Mill Sazzad Ali also spoke.
Mayor Liton said that the physically and mentally challenged people can be mainstreamed and empowered using the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul for taking various steps in establishing rights of the children with special needs to ensure their education, treatment and other requisite facilities.
He urged wealthy people and other philanthropists to stand beside the people with special abilities and also urged the challenged people to make them fit for the jobs for providing minimum services to the service- providers.
Other speakers said the people with special needs aren’t the burden of the society but wealth. They have to be built as worthy citizens.
All quarters should come forward towards forging a social movement for welfare of those thereby overall developments of the society will be achieved.