There is no light in his eyes, yet he has illuminated the path for others. With this theme, Md Saidul Haque, Executive Director of Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation (BARDO) has been working for the visually impaired persons for a long time. For his outstanding contributions, he was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2023 as social worker.
During childhood, Saidul Haque lost his eyesight due to typhoid. Even after losing his vision, he did not give up. His thirst for knowledge and dream of becoming an enlightened person led him to success. It is like an unbreakable vow.
Besides the Ekushey Padak, he received the Rotary International Award in 1994, CBI Award in 2001, and BABISAS Award in 2022. He also holds the Ashoka Fellowship (1995) and Robert S. McNamara Fellowships (World Bank – 2001). His work has taken him to several countries.
Saidul Haque was born on 10 May 1967 in Bakerganj, Barishal. His childhood passed there. He completed SSC (1983) from Government School for the Blind in Barishal, HSC (1985) from Barishal BM College, and later got admitted to Dhaka University. He completed Honours in 1988 and Masters in 1989 in Philosophy. Alongside studying, he worked with various organizations supporting the visually impaired. After completing his education, he first served as a teacher in a school for the blind in Dhaka and later joined a government job. But he always felt that doing a job would only help himself, not others like him who had lost their eyesight. From this thought, he established BARDO. In Rupnagar, Mirpur, he built a school, hospital, Braille press, and a library for the visually impaired under BARDO. Here visually impaired students receive education from class one to HSC.
In an interview with the English daily The Country Today, he shared about his success and future plans.
Q: How did you plan BARDO, and how did you come this far step by step ?
A: The visually impaired are lagging behind in employment and social dignity. I planned to create this platform to be their companion. BARDO was established in 1991 to protect the basic rights of the visually impaired and all persons with disabilities. At that time, Safayet Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of Delta Life, gave us a room in his office where we worked for nine months with my friends Ershad and Jahangir. Later, we worked in Shyamoli for 10 years, and then opened the permanent school in Rupnagar. From a tin-shed to one storey, and now it has become a five-storey building. Many people supported this noble initiative. I am grateful to them.
Q: What are the main barriers for the visually impaired in Bangladesh ?
A: Economic crisis and employment scarcity are severe. Persons with disabilities do not get jobs, cannot start businesses, and banks do not support them. Even visually impaired people cannot easily open bank accounts. They face difficulty getting on buses. Parks and recreational centres are not disability-friendly. There are countless obstacles on the way.
Q: Who inspired you on your journey to success ?
A: My wife is a major source of inspiration. Before that, some teachers and my siblings helped me reach this stage. They always encouraged me to continue this work and bring visually impaired people into the mainstream.
Q: What are your future plans for the visually impaired ?
A: BARDO has worked in 15 districts and 8 divisional cities. We have provided education, training, and employment to 200 persons with disabilities. Additionally, we trained 7,500 women with disabilities for employment (small and cottage industries). Both projects were government-funded. In the future, we want to establish hostels for girls with disabilities, a technical training centre for people with disabilities, and an international-standard training and research centre.
Q : Your Ekushey Padak has elevated the visually impaired to a unique height. How did it feel to receive this award?
A : I received this award for working for persons with disabilities. The Ekushey Padak is not mine; it belongs to the disability community.
Q : You are visually impaired yet living a normal life. What is your message to the visually impaired?
A : Make yourself capable, play a role in society.
Q : Do you recall any memorable meeting with prominent international figures?
A : In London, I met David Blunkett, an education minister, and in Saudi Arabia, Minister Abdullah Al Khanem (Social Welfare Minister). I was amazed to see these two visually impaired individuals. These countries are far ahead in disability inclusion.
Q: How many countries have you traveled to for work ?
A : I have traveled to several countries in Asia, Europe, and London for different training programs and conferences. In those countries, I saw that persons with disabilities have progressed far, while we remain behind. I urge the government of Bangladesh to give respect and rights to visually impaired people. They should be valued so they can even reach decision-making positions.
