A formal meeting and discussion was held ensuring the national budget of Bangladesh friendly to Disabled People at the conference room of the Ministry of Finance at the Bangladesh Secretariat between the Honorable Finance Minister, Mr. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and a 24-member delegation led by Mr. Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Director of BPKS.
Also present at the meeting were the Honorable Minister of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Dr. A.Z. Zahid Hossain; the Honorable State Minister, Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul; Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf; Managing Director of the National Foundation for the Development of Persons with Disabilities and Additional Secretary to the Government, Mr. Md. Tarikul Alam; Additional Secretary of the Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ziaul Abedin; Joint Secretary (Budget), Deputy Secretaries, and other concerned government officials.
The delegation included representatives from various organizations of persons with disabilities across Bangladesh. Among them were:
• Md. Iftekhar Hossain Sohel, Secretary General of NADPO and a visually impaired person
• Md. Shahidul Islam, Director, Tangail DPOD
• Md. Anwar Hossain Hazari, Chairman of PKS and BPKS
• Shahana Akter, Member of the Bangladesh National Association of the Deaf (person with hearing and speech impairment)
• Md. Badiul Alam Babul, Executive Director, Bangladesh Disability Development Organization (visually impaired person)
• Md. Asaduzzaman, Director, Kurigram Organization of Persons with Disabilities (wheelchair user and physically disabled person)
• Kaveri Sultana (Jyoti), Chairperson, Manikganj Disabled People’s Organization to Development (physically disabled woman)
• Md. Russell Bhuiyan, President, Cumilla Organization of Persons with Disabilities (physically disabled person)
• Mosammat Momota Parvin, Representative, Naogaon Organization of Persons with Disabilities (physically disabled woman)
• Mosammat Lovely Sultana, Representative, Narsingdi Organization of Persons with Disabilities (physically disabled woman)
• Md. Moniruzzaman Khan, Managing Trustee, Bangladesh Disability Development Trust (physically disabled person)
• Md. Farid, General Secretary, Alliance of Urban DPO and a visually impaired student
• Sumaiya Akter, Executive Director, Organization of Women with Disabilities in Sherpur District (physically disabled woman), also,
• Abi Abdullah, Adviser of BPKS and former Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh
• Abdul Aziz Khan, Director (Administration), BPKS
Sign language interpreters present at the meeting included Afroza Akter Mukta, Khairul Alam, and Altaf Hossain Lebu.
Budget Expectations of Persons with Disabilities in the Country
• Allocate a budget of BDT 2000 thousand core for infrastructure development of organizations run by persons with disabilities, including the national organization BPKS, as well as for implementing PwDs empowerment and development programs.
• Allocate a budget of BDT 500 core for modern AI, IT, and various vocational training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
• Increase the monthly allowance for 5 persons with severe disabilities in every ward to BDT 10,000 each.
• Allocate budget for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with National Policy 1995 and related action plans.
• Ensure that 10% of the program budget of every ministry is made disability-inclusive and supportive of the development of persons with disabilities.
• Ensure the participation of qualified representatives from organizations of persons with disabilities in the budget preparation process of every ministry.
• Allocate budget for providing training to all professionals, planners, and state service providers.
• Facilitate the import and registration of accessible and disability-friendly vehicles for persons with disabilities.
• Allocate funds to relevant ministries to make all public service infrastructure — including bus and train stations, offices, courts, launch terminals, and ticket counters — accessible and disability-friendly.
• Form a 7-member committee to monitor the inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh’s national budget and development programs.
• Provide priority loan facilities to industries and enterprises established by persons with disabilities or their organizations.
• Allocate funds under the Ministry of Education to establish a National Braille Printing Press for visually impaired persons.
• Exempt organizations of persons with disabilities from taxes.
• Allocate budget for national skilled exhibitions for persons with disabilities.
• Form a commission to ensure the proper utilization of Bangladesh’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds.
• Ensure the appointment of a disability focal person in every ministry.
The meeting was held with great sincerity with positiveness. The finance minister agreed with most of the points. They are also going to take some actions.