Speakers at a seminar in the city yesterday called for upholding the rights of the people with disabilities so that they could  contribute to the welfare of the nation like other citizens of the county. Bangladesh Protibondhi Kalyan  Samity (BPKS), a non-government self-help organisation of people with disabilities (PWDs), organised the seminar at Biddyut Bhavan in the capital to focus on the  rights of  the physically challenged people, especially women and children.
Land Minister Shamsur Rahaman Sherif attended the function as the chief guest while Segufta Yasmin Emeli MP, additional secretary and executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) Md. Kaikobad Hossain and additional secretary (Admin) of Social Welfare Ministry Khandoker Atiar Rahman were present as special guests at the seminar. BPKS is a non-profit, voluntary and nonpolitical disabled peoples’ resource organisation, run by themselves for the last 30 years. It was established in 1985 at the initiative of UNESCAP Disability Rights Champion Award winner Abdus Sattar Dulal, who is founder and executive director of the organisation. Dulal was actively involved in establishment of a number of organisation for the people with disabilities. BPKS became a member of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) in 1991.