Briefing at IUB: Respect, protect disabled peoples’ rights

Dhaka, Sept 24 – Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) with the cooperation of independent university, Bangladesh organized an event at IUB “contribute to change life” focusing on disabled persons’ rights and development. In the program Mazeda Akter, a disabled girl shared her experience says she was not born with a disability, because of mischief anti lawful actions she lost wrists of hand, one eye and another eye is also damaged. Anika Sultana was born with visual impairment says she is the elder child of her parents. Her family was worried when she was born. They took it as a tragedy of their Sardar family. Both of the girls share their painful experience with IUB students and teachers in the event. Anika says after her completion of HSC with golden five from her family sponsored school “Sordarbari School” and her family was arranging for admission at Rajuk in Uttara. When school authority sees her as a visual impairment then they raise many questions that because of she admitted to school it will reduce their reputation of the school etc. Girls say, they got the confidence and inspiration from BPKS for the continuation of their education, but unlimited challenge needed to overcome by the girls with disabilities to achieve and complete their education where most of the educational institution in the country not ready with proper attitude and facilities for them. They say there is no transports and education infrastructure are accessible and why they are deprived and discriminated to enjoy their civil rights?
The event was organized to increase the perception & understanding on disabled persons rights & development among the university professionals and students was addressed by Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Vice Chancellor of BRUR, Pro VC of IUB Professor Dr Milan Pagon and Consultant Editor of the Asian Age Mostafa Kamal Majumder.
Abdus Sattar Dulal, UN Disability Right Champion and Executive Director, BPKS give the key presentation in the program. He says the country like in Bangladesh percentage of disabled persons more than 15% as per WHO and World Bank report. He says world today moving with using benefits of more than ONE Billion disabled persons of which 80 percent of them are till now live in poverty. In Bangladesh disabled person mostly left out from services including education/ universities, employment, opportunities, decision making and planning and politics. Dulal said though Bangladesh ratified the un convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008 and Disabled Persons Rights and Protection Act, 2013 and Respective Rules Passed by Bangladesh. He says most of the actions in the

Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Secretary, BPKS making a presentation at the AUB auditorium on Monday - GreenWatch Dhaka
Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Secretary, BPKS making a presentation at the IUB auditorium on Monday – GreenWatch Dhaka

country is declaration and charity focused, not focusing to implement the program, based on convention and law of the country.
The speakers said development of disabled persons not only contribute to their life, it ultimately contributes to increasing the national development including 50% of the population are increasingly benefited in many ways directly. Mr Dulal also says half of our disabled population live in towns and cities which are not resilient considering accessibility and fulfilment of needs of transport, housing, employment, business, environment, roads, public spaces, basic urban services, such as sanitation and water, health, education, emergency and disaster response. In Dhaka, no houses are available for disabled persons though they equally pay tax and give votes for nation-building.
Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Vice Chancellor of BRUR said it is our duty to ensure that all universities are infrastructure and facilities wise accessible and encourage enrolling disabled students so that Bangladesh.
Pro VC of IUB Professor Dr Milan Pagon with an appreciation of BPKS works said IUB will be more open in future be friendlier to disabled students. – Staff Reporter