Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said support and services centre will be set up in every upazila across the country for the specially-abled people. “Now, there’re 103 support and service centres -- 64 at district and 39 upazila levels -- for the persons with disabilities in the country. There’s also an autism corner in each centre. We’ll set up such centre in every upazila,” she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a function marking the 28th International and the 21st National Day of Persons with Disabilities 2019 in the city’s Mirpur-14 area.

She also inaugurated newly-constructed Jatiya Protibondhi Complex, 'Subarno Bhaban', on the premises of National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation) there.

This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being observed with the theme "The Future is Accessible".

The Prime Minister stressed the need for the introduction of special trainings in the country to make the persons with disabilities self-dependent.

“In many countries, a person with disabilities is imparted with special trainings so that he or she can move on his or her own. Such training can be brought through Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation…if we can take initiatives to some extent, he or she won’t need to remain dependent on others in many cases,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been working to ensure the rights of the persons with all types of disabilities.  

She said the government will arrange for training and sport facilities, and jobs for the specially-abled community in every upazila.

The premier also directed the Social Welfare Ministry to take a project in this regard finding out its own lands for that.

Right after the independence of the country, she said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had provided huge lands to the Social Welfare Ministry across the country, where more institutions can be set up.

Noting that she has already given directives to the ministry to find out the lands, she said, “We’ll arrange training, sports and games, other facilities and even employment in district and upazila levels for our persons with disabilities. We’ve such plan.”