Staff Correspondent

Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain, MP, Minister for Social Welfare as well as Women and Children Affairs, stated today that the government's core objective is to transform individuals with disabilities into an active and capable workforce through quality education, skill development, and proper rehabilitation.

The Minister made these remarks to journalists after touring the Jatiya Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation premises in the capital’s Mirpur-14 on Wednesday.

During his visit, Dr. Zahid inspected every administrative section and interacted closely with students facing various challenges, including speech, hearing, visual, intellectual, and physical disabilities. He assessed their educational curriculum, braille and sign language instructional methods, residential facilities, dietary standards, medical care, and sanitation arrangements. Following the physical inspection, he attended an exchange meeting with the foundation's officials and employees as the chief guest.

Describing the visit as a routine administrative activity rather than an organizational event, the Minister highlighted that the complex serves as an integrated hub. It features specialized colleges and separate schools catering to children and adolescents dealing with neuro-developmental disorders, autism, visual impairments, and hearing loss, alongside dedicated dormitories for both male and female students.

The Minister further said, the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is operationalizing its electoral pledge to build a humanitarian Bangladesh by empowering marginalized groups.

Referring to statistical estimates, the Minister pointed out that there are approximately 14 to 16 million people with disabilities across the country. To cater to this large demographic, the government currently operates 103 service centers at the district and upazila levels, with an ultimate target of expanding specialized speech, language, and physical physiotherapy services to every single upazila.

Addressing the national landscape, Prof. Zahid underscored that social security programs managed by the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs remain the number one priority of the current regime.

The inspection and subsequent view-exchange meeting were attended by the Managing Director of Jatiya Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation Md. Tariqul Alam, Director Sonamoni Chakma, along with college principals, school headmasters, teachers, and senior departmental officials.