Wealthy People Should Come Forward To Flourish The Talents Of The Physically Challenged: PM

"There is no dearth of rich people in the country. So I would like to urge them to come forward to flourish the talent of the people with disability," she said.

She added that if the people with disability are provided scope and due facilities they could prove themselves as the golden sons of the country.

In this connection, the Prime Minister criticised the media for not highlighting properly the success of the boys and girls of the country.

"It is unfortunate for us the newspapers don't make headlines of this success, rather they remain busy with criticism of others," she lamented.

The Prime Minister said this when officials and players of Bangladesh Cricket Association for the Physically-Challenged called on her at her office here this morning on the occasion of its winning of the T-20 series in India recently.

Eminent autism expert and PM's daughter Saima Hossain Putul, Chief Patron of the association and Dhaka University Vice- Chancellor Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Patron and noted economist Professor Abul Baraqat, President of the association Prof Dr Shaikh Abdus Salam and General Secretary Engineer Maqsudur Rahman spoke on the occasion.

Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar and Press Secretary AKM Shamim Chowdhury were present on the occasion, among others.

Congratulating the players and officials of the team, Sheikh Hasina termed its victory on the Indian soil as a big achievement.

She also thanked all concerned of the association for formation of the association, describing it as a unique thinking for the welfare of the people with disability.

Illustrating her government's steps for the welfare of the physically- challenged people, the Prime Minister said her government during its 1996-2001 tenure constituted the Jatiya Protibandhi Kallyan Foundation with seed money.

She said the ministries of health, social welfare, women and children affairs and youth and sports have been implementing different programmes for the welfare.

Apart from constructing hostels for the people with disability in the capital, Sheikh Hasina said the government is also constructing such hostels outside of the capital.

She said the government is conducting a survey to prepare a list for the physically-challenged people. "We have also introduced the allowances for them," she said.

The Prime Minister said special quota for the disabled has been preserved for the people with disability in government job and admission in different educational institutions.

"Additional 20 minutes time has been introduced in the public examinations for the examinees with disability," she said.

She said a separate sports complex for the physically- challenged people is being built in the capital so that they can practise all types of sports and games there. "Such complex would be constructed in district and upazila- levels in phases," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is going to establish an autism academy in the country and encouraging the people with disability in flourishing their latent talents.

In this connection, she mentioned that she sends Eid and Pohela Boishakh greeting cards to the people every year with the paintings of the physically-challenged children.

Putting emphasis on due state-patronization for the people with disability, the Prime Minister said they always show their excellent performances in the fields of sports and culture if they are provided scopes.

"It is very important for the state to provide encouragement to them," she said, calling upon the public and private banks to continue the CSR programme for the people with disability.

At the function, the Prime Minister announced of financial assistance of Taka one crore for Bangladesh Cricket Association for the Physically-Challenged.

She assured the physically-challenged that the government would build a playground for their yearlong practise of sports and games.

She also assured that the government would provide allout support for participation of Bangladesh Cricket Association for the Physically- Challenged in the Asian Physically-Challenged Cricket Tournament to be held in India.

"We would also provide assistance in hosting the tri-nation cricket series for the people with disability," she said.

Congratulating the Bangladesh Cricket Association for the Physically-Challenged on their victory in India, Saima Hossain Putul hoped that the trend of their success would continue in future.

The Prime Minister later handed over a check for Tk one lakh each to all officials and players of the team. Players and officials of the team handed over the trophy that they won in India to the Prime Minister.

Bangladesh Cricket Association for the Physically-Challenged clinched the three match T-20 series against India by 2-1. The series was held in Gwalior, Ferozabad and Agra from June 22 to 27.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)