Staff Reporter, Dhaka
Bangladesh has nearly 4.8 million people with disabilities, with a majority facing physical disabilities. These individuals lag significantly in accessing healthcare, education, and employment. Only 40 percent of people with disabilities attend school, and a mere 27 percent are engaged in economic activities. However, with the necessary support, people with disabilities could become assets to the country.
Speakers said this at a National Gathering of Person with Disabilities hosted by SDDB project of Caritas Bangladesh on Tuesday ( 12 December) at Holy Cross Pastoral and Retreat Center in Bhadun, near Dhaka. The gathering brought together over 200 people with disabilities from 24 unions across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Gazipur’s Kaliganj Upazila Social Services Officer Shahadat Hossain said that, in the past, families often kept persons with disabilities hidden out of shame. Thanks to various governmental and non-governmental efforts, people with disabilities are now advocating for their rights openly. They possess intelligence and abilities, and many have already accessed education and employment opportunities. Providing them with the right opportunities could turn them into valuable contributors to national development.
Bishop Theotonius Gomes from Dhaka Catholic Diocese, said, “We come to this world with the gift of life to create beauty. Through service, let us appreciate the beauty within our special brothers and sisters, so they can be a blessing to us, and we, in turn, to them.”
In his presidential address, Daud Jibon Das, Director-Program of Caritas Bangladesh, said that Caritas Bangladesh has been working for over 50 years to improve the lives of marginalized people. He emphasized the organization’s ongoing collaboration with the government to integrate individuals with disabilities into mainstream society. Through Caritas’ SDDB project in eight regions, 6,378 individuals across 24 unions have directly benefited and uplifted their lives.
Caritas Germany’s representative Angela Gartner addressed representatives from various disability clubs across the country, encouraging them to take ownership of SDDB project. “The initiative, already successful, will be led by you. By collaborating across different clubs, you’re advocating for rights, creating a future where people with disabilities and senior citizens can live peacefully together in harmony.”
Among others, Caritas Germany’s representative Aollmer Nicole, Timme Anna Lena; James Clement Cruze, CSC, Director of Holy Cross Pastoral and Retreat Center; Shawrab Rozario, Regional Director of Caritas Dhaka; Abu Bakkar Mia, Chairman of Tumlia Union Parishad, Kaliganj, Gazipur; and Binoy Rodrigues, Program Officer of the SDDB project at Caritas spoke at the event.