Staff Correspondent

Dhaka District Commissioner (DC) Farida Khanom has stated that with proper care, education, training, and adequate opportunities, intellectually challenged children can transform into valuable assets for the country.

She made the remarks on Tuesday (August 25) as the chief guest at an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the disabled children's development organization "Mayar Bandhan" at the Bangladesh Police Liberation War Museum in Rajarbagh, Dhaka. Food items and gifts were distributed among the children during the program.

Stating that disabilities never define the limits of human intellect, talent, and potential, DC Farida Khanom cited the bright example of world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. Despite severe physical limitations, Hawking made extraordinary contributions to unraveling the mysteries of the universe, proving that physical constraints cannot stop human talent and dreams.

"There is boundless potential within these children," she said. "If we focus on their capabilities rather than their limitations and create opportunities for necessary education, training, and support, they too will one day become a source of pride for their families, society, and the country."

Emphasizing that special needs children need respect, love, and opportunities rather than pity, the District Commissioner noted that a supportive environment for nurturing their hidden talents must be built through the combined efforts of family, society, and the state. Praising the decade-long humanitarian efforts of Mayar Bandhan, she highlighted the organization's crucial initiative to establish a permanent and secure housing facility to alleviate parents' anxieties about their children's future.

During the event, the DC provided financial donations for the welfare of autistic and intellectually challenged children and assured the allocation of khas land where appropriate.

Chaired by Mayar Bandhan President Mst. Fauzia Yasmin, the program was attended by civil society representatives, parents, organization members, and special needs children. According to the organizers, 96 children participated in the event, including 16 orphans and 11 single-parent children raised by mothers, all of whom received food and gifts.

Mayar Bandhan is a non-political child development organization dedicated to securing a safe and sustainable future for special needs children through a decade of humanitarian initiatives.