Law soon to protect persons with disabilities, says PM

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Saturday said that the present government has taken steps to enact a law for ensuring the rights of persons with disability and giving them the opportunity to contribute to country's development, reports UNB. The government wants to involve the disabled persons for making the country a 'Digital Bangladesh', she said while addressing a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city, marking the 20th International Day for the Disabled. Social Welfare Minister Enamul Hoque Mostofa Shahid presided over the programme, organised by National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons, an initiative of the Social Welfare Ministry. Health and Social Welfare adviser to the Prime Minister Prof (Dr) Syed Modasser Ali also spoke on the occasion. Sheikh Hasina urged all to extend their cooperation to help the disabled persons. "Let us help their merit to flourish: then you will see them contributing to the advancement of the society," she said. Mentioning that the disabled students now get 15 minutes' extra time in their examinations, she said: "This is not enough for them and we are thinking of increasing the time to 30 minutes." The PM said the persons with disability need special attention from family and society as well as in their places of study and work. Mentioning that there were many geniuses in the world who were disabled, she said that the disabled persons need sufficient scope to prove their merits. In this connection, Hasina said that during the tenure of her previous government (1996-2001) she had established the National Development Forum for the Disabled. This time, the Awami League-led (AL) government has already set up service and help centres for the disabled in 30 districts, she said, adding: She also said that the government has formulated special education policy for the disabled students.