International Day of Disabled today
Dhaka: Bangladesh is set to join the global community in observing the UN declared International Day of Disabled Persons on Thursday to drum up the awareness campaign to support and integrate the retarded people in the mainstream activities.
The ministry of Social Welfare and Social Welfare Department planned different programmes along with the National Disability Development Foundation, National Disability Forum and different social organisations to observe the day in a befitting manner.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined a major function of the day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the morning.
The United Nations this year set ‘Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities’ as the theme of the day.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), at least 10 per cent of the global population or 650 million people across the world live with a disability of any sort.
The Day is marked around the world annually on 3 December since 1992 to promote awareness and mobilise support for critical issues pertaining to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development.
President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and the premier issued separate messages on the eve of the day urging all, including the national and foreign organizations to extend their hands to supplement the government efforts for the welfare of the disabled persons.
The state-run Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels will air special programmes to mark the Day.