Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to take effective measures for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure they receive necessary services.
He stressed the importance of establishing disability-friendly infrastructure and ensuring all facilities, including education and healthcare, to create an inclusive society.
Tarique issued these directives on Wednesday afternoon during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Secretariat.
He noted that the dignity and capabilities of persons with special needs must be appropriately valued at every level of society. He called for realistic steps to enable their active participation in all social and state activities.
During the meeting, several state ministers highlighted various problems, limitations, and the lack of facilities faced by persons with disabilities. In response, the Prime Minister provided several key instructions.
Regarding building policies, the Prime Minister stated that all public and private structures – including hospitals and restaurants – must have accessible infrastructure and toilet facilities for persons with special needs.
He specifically instructed that room doors must be designed to allow easy entry for wheelchair users.
He also directed that necessary facilities for persons with special needs be included in the electric buses currently planned for women.
Additionally, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was urged to focus on awareness-building activities and the organisation of various programmes featuring persons with special needs.
Tarique ordered an inquiry into whether disability schools across the country are operating correctly. He also advocated for the inclusion of children with special needs in the “Nutan Kuri Sports” competition.
The meeting decided to initially launch the “Shishu Swargo” project in 10 upazilas across 10 districts to ensure health and rehabilitation services for children with special needs. It was announced that this initiative would begin shortly.
The meeting was attended by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam; State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit; State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury; State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin Putul; State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki; and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, secretaries of relevant ministries, and Abdus Sattar Dulal, founder of the Bangladesh Protibondhi Kallyan Samity, were also present there.
