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Dhaka //

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has alleged that the ousted Awami League has looted the allowance of the disabled. He made this allegation at a meeting with disabled people at LGED Bhaban in Agargaon in the capital on Saturday afternoon.

Tarique Rahman joined the event organized by BNP on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day virtually from London. At the time, he promised to stand by the disabled people and informed them of BNP’s plans for them in the coming days.

Alleging that the allowance of the disabled was looted, Tarique Rahman said, “Many of you know that in 2001, the then BNP government started providing allowance to the disabled in Bangladesh on a state basis, but the Awami League has looted that allowance among its own leaders and workers without keeping it in line with the rise in prices of goods. In line with economic reality, we want to increase the amount of allowance for the disabled and re-determine it fairly.” In order to make the registration process easy and transparent, we will take a coordinated initiative between the ministries of social welfare, health and primary and mass education so that not a single disabled person is left out of social benefits.

Informing about the initiative to establish a separate department for the disabled to improve their quality of life, he said, “Our commitment is to take strong steps to improve the quality of life of people with special needs, the basis of which will be to ensure economic self-reliance, social empowerment and human dignity. We will take the initiative to establish a separate department, which will coordinate the activities of various ministries and departments in addition to conducting specific activities for people with disabilities.”

Promising to stand by the disabled, he said, “If BNP takes the responsibility of running the state with the people’s votes, the elected BNP government will ensure that you, like all other citizens of the country, will have the utmost sincerity to deliver your civil rights and facilities correctly and equally. Initiatives will be taken to ensure your good medical care, educational opportunities, equal opportunities in employment, and to make every establishment and transportation system in the country accessible to you.”

Promising to activate the ‘Golden Citizen Card’ for the disabled, he said, “By activating the Golden Card, we want to provide health insurance, educational scholarships, transportation discounts and other social benefits under it. We will arrange realistic vocational and technical training for people with special needs so that they can become financially independent. In addition to providing specific technical and structural benefits for talented young people with special needs, especially in the areas of outsourcing, data processing, and freelancing, tax waivers and the creation of work stations can be effectively considered. In other cases, efforts can be made to create entrepreneurs by providing special loans on easy terms for enterprising and successful disabled people.

At the same time, Tarique Rahman expressed his commitment in various areas including training for the disabled, making public transport and various government and private establishments suitable for them, health, and education of children with disabilities.

Addressing the disabled, he said, “Your disability is the disability of all of us.” I believe that we can never move forward without you, and we do not want to move forward. The democratic Bangladesh that we will build together will be fair for all, inclusive for all, livable for all and enjoyable for all. Let us all build a democratic Bangladesh, the foundation of which will be the creation of a non-discriminatory, inclusive, and liberal society. Your welfare and success are our priority.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Health Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Parvez Reza Kakon and many others were present at the event. At least 150 disabled people from different parts of the country participated in this exchange of views.

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