THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed today called upon all concerned including the Election Commission (EC) to extend allout cooperation to the disabled persons in exercising their rights of franchise in various ways including setting up poling centers fit for them.

"The government is putting in its best efforts for holding a free and neutral election by ensuring everybody's participation and I hope the disabled persons along with others will also take part in the electioneering side by side with exercising their own voting rights in a festive mood," he said.

The President made the call while addressing the inaugural session of the 4th National Convention on Democratic Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar here.

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organised the convention in partnership with national, district and grassroots levels non-government organisation (NGOs) working for the disabled persons.

Adviser for Women and Children and Cultural Affairs Rasheda K Chowdhury also addressed the function as the special guest.

Former Adviser of the Caretaker Government Rokeya Afzal Rahman, Country Director of ADD Mosharraf Hossain and President of Trinamul Pratibandhi Sangstha (TPS) Aktar Hossain also spoke on the occasion.

Professor Iahuddin Ahmed said the desired development of the country would not be achieved if the persons with disabilities, an inseparable section of the country's population, are not engaged in the mainstream of the national development.

"I believe, if we can make the persons with disabilities financially independent and ensure their jobs, they could
contribute significantly in the decision making process," he added.

Referring to various steps undertaken by the government to ensure overall development of the disabled persons including provisions for their education, healthcare and jobs, the President said the government has been sincerely working for the welfare of this section of the people.

In this regard, Professor Iajuddin Ahmed called upon the conscientious as well as the well-off people to come forward side by side with the government with the sprit of humanity for the welfare of disabled persons.

Rasheda K Chowdhury said the present government is very much sincere to protect the rights of the disabled persons. "The sincerity of the government has been manifested through its approval of the UN charter on the rights of disabled persons," she said.

The Adviser also said that the present government included the information about disabilities in the voter's registration form this time, the fist ever in Bangladesh.