PM Hasina says each upazila to get support centre for specially-abled people

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said a number of support and service centres will be opened in every upazila across the country for the specially-abled people.

“Now there’re 103 support and service centres –- 64 at district and 39 upazila levels --for the persons with disabilities in the country. There’s also an autism corner in each centre. We’ll set up such centre in every upazila,” she said.

PM Sheikh Hasina was addressing a function marking the 28th International and the 21st National Day of Persons with Disabilities 2019 in the city’s Mirpur-14 area.

She also inaugurated newly-constructed Jatiya Protibondhi Complex, 'Subarno Bhaban', on the premises of Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation (National Development Foundation for Disabled Persons).

This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed with the theme "The Future is Accessible".

The prime minister stressed the need of special trainings in the country to make the persons with disabilities self-dependent.

“In many countries, a person with disabilities is imparted with special trainings so that he or she can move on his or her own. Such training can be brought through Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation…If we can take initiatives to some extent, he or she won’t need to remain dependent on others in many cases,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been working to ensure the rights of the persons with all types of disabilities.

She said the government will make arrangements for providing training and sport facilities, and jobs for the specially-abled community in every upazila.

The PM also directed the Social Welfare Ministry to take a project in this regard finding out its own lands for that.