Saturday, December 20, 2008

Eid Reunion and National Victory Day celebrated by People With Disabilities in Dhaka, Bangladesh

On December 16, people with disabilities' gathered together at Ramna Park in Dhaka, Bangladesh to celebrate Eid re-union and the National Victory Day of the Country. People with disabilities of all categories spontaneously participated in this get-together to share their joy and emotions in a very friendly and free environment.
People with disabilities working in 19 GO, NGO, Bank, business enterprise, students of university and colleges, parents and family members participated in this unusual event and created a festive environment with difference for the first time in the city.


This get together was held at a most pleasant accessible, easy to reach place with green and natural view to ensure participation of all categories of PWDs.

During this get together people with disability friends got such a homely environment where they could share their own issues and unveiled many exciting incidents and stories among them. They also celebrated the Birthday Anniversary of Antora (physically challenged) and wished to the marriage of two couples Joly & Shohel (both late blind) and Animesh & Dolly (physically disabled and
non-disabled). Both the marriages were the outcome of their exciting and divine love affairs. PWDs in the gathering also congratulated Sarower (complete blind) for being able to get his M Phil Degree from Dhaka University as the first PWD in the country.

"Spondon Friends' Circle" organized this exceptional event to create an avenue for free sharing of information, experiences, views and opinion on the issues of their own and to strengthen their relation and friendship at very individual level.


This get-together created strong enthusiasm and confidence among all people with disabilities irrespective of their type, age, sex, social strata and workplaces. All participants expressed their joy and happiness with the warmth of friendship and committed to strengthen this bonding for their own.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Congratulations to Monsur Bhai

AWDP, on behalf of all its members and associates highly congratulates Mr. Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury for being prestigiously elected as one of the most capable members in the UN Committee of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with the highest number of votes. We feel proud of his capability and contributions to promote disability movement at national and international level. You have lightened a candle of inspiration and hope to all people with disabilities in Bangladesh as well as in this region.

AWDP sincerely believes that the UN Expert Committee will be immensely benefited by your contribution to take this movement a long way and will always be in support to him to the endeavors for establishing rights and dignity of people with disabilities at national and international level.



Previously AWDP focused on Mr. Monsur Ahmeds endeavours and abilities on 'SPONDON' the quearterly newsletter of AWDP.



Others' Opinion:


Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
Foreign Adviser
Council of Advisors, Caretaker Goverment of Bangladesh

The victory, with the highest number of votes, marks yet another acknowledgement by the International Community of Bangladesh’s active role on critical global social issues. We had campaigned hard for it at the UN, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I am sure Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri will do a splendid job.

***

Aiko Akiyama
Social Affairs Officer
Social Development Division (SDD)
UNESCAP
Congratulations to Monsur!!I am sure that this would give impetus for Bangladesh to push the agenda ofdisability in development and human rights arenas.
We look forward to continuing to work with you.

***

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Ponseti Technique for Treatment & Management of Club Feet

Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross Special Fund for the Disabled (ICRC-SFD) organizes a seminar on Awareness and Management of Club Foot through Ponseti Technique in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ponseti Technique is a most useful and effective method of the treatment and management of club foot which manipulates the bones and stretches the contracted tissues to corrected positions. This technique has been successfully applied in other countries for more than 45 years. Dr. Ignalco Ponseti introduced this revolutionary technique for early interveniton in children and persons with club feet.

CRP has taken a noble effort of dissemination knowledge and understanding on this most interesting, simple and cost effective method of treatment among health professionals and practitioners in Bangladesh through this seminar. Professor Dr. M Hasan Ali, Principal of BHPI, CRP, Mr. Finn Ruda, Head of Mission, ICRC were present at the Inaugural Session as special guests. Additional Director General of DGHS Prof Hosne Ara Tahmin inaugurated the seminar as Chief Guest while CRP Coordinator, Valerie Taylor presided over the session. Dr. Angela M Ivans PhD and Dr. Paul Warren Wade PhD from University of West Australia, Dr. Fazlul Haque, Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery Consultant, Square Hospital, Bangladesh and Leo Gasser, prosthetist & orthotist from ICRC-SFD Rehabilitation Centre, Vietnam made their valuable presentations on Ponseti Technique in the seminar.

AWDP-Bangladesh disseminates this information as it believes that right information at right time can reduce the hesseles of intervention in disabilities by many times. And Ponseti Technique can make a big contribution in the intervention of club feet in Bangladesh.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Selim Nazrul is no more

Its a matter of great sadness that our dear friend Selim Nazrul is no more. He left us forever on 15 October 2008 by brain hemorrhage. We will loose his strong voice against all discrimination, humiliation and exploitation of people with disabilities in the country. A very attractive, hard working and energetic personality Selim Nazrul has had his immense contribution in consolidating disability movement in Bangladesh.

He started his career as a sports journalist. He was involved with information material development and publications in Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) for a good duration. He contributed for Disability Resource and Documentation Center (DRDC). Then he started working for people with disabilities of his own region, Chittagong. He organized disability rights movement in Chittagong Division and had his great contributions for regional disability NGO Network CSD. He was also the Executive Director of Centre for Disabales Concern (CDC).
AWDP-Bangladesh Conveys deep condolence to his family, colleagues, friends and dear ones for his tragic demise. It also prays for his departed soul.

Others' said...

It was a very sad news, we members of Nawabshah Disability Forum pay rich tribute to Salim Nazrul for his dedicated services in disability movement. We offer condolence with the whole family of Salim and his disabled colleagues in the world.
Abid Lashari
President Nawabshah Disability Forum
District Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
Sindh - Pakistan.

****************

I am sorry and shocked with the news of sad demise of such a young brave heart! please convey my sincere condolence to the members of the bereaved family! May Allah shower His grace to the soul of Selim Nazrul and I pray to the Almighty to bless him with eternal peace!

Dr. Nasir Uddin
Advisor, NATAB & former Executive Director, VHSS
Bangladesh
******************

May Allah grant his soul eternal peace.

CM Shafi Sami
Former Advisor, Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
& former CEO, Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP)
**************

I am extremely shocked hearing the death news of Selim Nazrul. I pray to the Almighty Allah for his soul. I also express my sympathy to the members of his family and friends.

Abu Baker Siddique
Dy Director (Institution), DSS
Ministry of Social Welfare, Bangladesh
******************


Our another brother in disability movement from Bangladesh left us. (Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ellehe Rajeoon). I met Salim various times in Bangladesh and found him enthusiastic in disability movement. God may rest his soul in peace.

Regards
Ghulam Nabi Nizamani
Vice Chair, DPI-AP
******************

Condolence Letter from
National Disability Forum (NFOWD)
Bangladesh
************

I'm expressing deep shock at his death.
We praying to god for salvation of the departed soul......allah of hafiz ....

M.Osman Khaled
**************

It is a matter of great shock to all PWDs. I personally socked much. I do not expect any of my PWD brothers will leave us at such an early age. I pray for his departed soul. Allah will place him in the best haven.

Moniruzzaman Khan

Managing Trustee, BDDT, Bangladesh
***************

It is really a sad news

Nahid Mahmud
Chippendale NSW 2008 Australia
******************

Allah janat dey

Shafiq Ur Rehman
Milestone Pakistan
******************
Oh we lost one more leader.
Pakistani Disability movement feel very sad.

Mirza Sahab
*************
Please accept our condolences and greif and we pray for him and his family

Asha Hans
SMRC
Bhubaneswar
*******************

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Country's first person with disability has got M.Phil Degree

People with disabilities in Bangladesh have been striving hard for establishing their rights, dignity and of their own empowerment in different avenues. In the course of such strive Mohammad Sarower Hossen Khan, a person with visual impairment (full blind) has set a most encouraging instance of success by achieving his M. Phil Degree from Dhaka University on `Role of the state to protect the rights of People With Disabilities in Bangladesh'.

Dhaka University Syndicate, in its meeting held on 13 September 2008 declared this result. Though a numerous number of students have been awarded M.Phil from this renowned University. But its indeed a giant leap for a person with severe disability (blind) like Mohammad Sarower Hossen Khan. This achievement will highly encourage other students with disability and will make them more confident towards big achievement.

Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP)-Bangladesh heartily congratulates Mr. Sarower for his milestone achievement.

Remarks of Appreciation:

Thanks. please convey our heartfelt appreciation. Congratulations to all concerned.. Good luck. let this be source of inspiration for others too. May God bless us all always.

Dr.M.Enamul Hoque
Former IGP & Member, Bangladesh Law Commission
************************

Great news! Looks like progress is being made.
Thanx and keep up the good work!

Bill Winkley

104-E leighton Dr. Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301-8431, USA
**************************

Really it was an encouraging news for all PWDs to build up their confidence for going forword. Congratulations for his big achievement.

Jolly Kowser

Woman with late blindness, BBA, Dhaka, Bangladesh
*************************
Thanks for good information. I also congratulate Mr. Sarower.


Cha Ghya Chak (Chiko)

Director,
Bandarban Disabled Peoples' Organization to Developement (BDPOD)
*************************
It gives me an immense pleasure to know the Success Story of Bangladesh especially from the people with disabilities.

My salute to Br. Sarower Hossen Khan who did an extra ordinary accomplishment in obtaining his Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Dhaka, despite his totally visual disability. I am very proud of him and words cannot express my appreciation. May Allah bless him for continued succeed.
It was reassuring the story of a blind man who was walking in the dark carrying a lamp with him. An able-bodied man began to laugh at him and said, “Why do you carry the lamp in the dark? You cannot see.” The blind man replied, “The lamp is for you so that you can see me.”

This is the true pen picture of our society. Able-bodied people are more bless than us, they do not suffer like us and do not familiar with our darkness. Despite facts, we are able to come to the light. Br. Sarower is one of the finest examples in our society. Warmest congatulations!
Iftu Ahmed
Illinois, USA, (a person with hearing impairment and a good friend of AWDP)
************************

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Jun 3, 2008 12:23 PM

Bangladesh Reviews `National ICT Policy'

Review of National ICT Policy 2002 is going on. It will be continued till 13 June 2008. In this regard Ministry of Science and ICT , Government of Bangladesh solicits opinion from all people.
AWDP-Bangladesh is pleased to draw the attention of all concerns, especially the organizations working for promoting the rights of people with disabilities to go through the existing "National ICT Policy 2002" reviewing and making valuable contribution to make it more comprehensive, universal with special focus on disability so that the nation can have an accessible ICT legislation for all people including people disabilities of all categories.
For National "ICT Policy 2002" please visit: http://www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/IT-computer/itpolicy-bd-2002.htm
Your opinion can be sent directly through the address mentioned on this circular. mailto:ictpolicybd@yahoogroups.com,
AWDP-Bangladesh facilitates all relevant assistance in this regard.
For assistance please contact through awdpbd@gmail.com
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf Coordinator, AWDP-Bangladesh Member, ICT Thematic Group, National Disability Forum-NFOWD, Bangladesh
Happy Birthday to Mohammad Atif!

Participants of the South Asian Regional Training workshop on "Capacity Building Training the Trainers programme" celebrated a Happy Birthday of Mohammad Atif Sheikh from East Anglia University, UK on 20th February 2008. It was the 32nd Birth Anniversary of Mohammad Atif Sheikh celebrated in Bangladesh and ever first celebration outside his own residence. It was a grand celebration by the participation of the people from six countries.

AWDP-Bangladesh wishes Mr. Atif a very warm Birthday and many many happy returns of the day.


Coordinator
AWDP- Bangladesh

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A great achievement in Bangladesh!
Finally the issues of disability have been included in the School Text Books under National Curriculum in Bangladesh. It’s a most delightful reward of the New Year to our untiring advocacy of the last couple of decades. Year 2008 has started with a great achievement in the mainstreaming of disability; a collective effort of disability and development activists, parents, teachers, educationalists and individual advocates of the governmental and non-governmental sectors. As a result articles on disability issue have been included in the School Text Books of primary and secondary levels under national curriculum for the first time in the country. From January 2008, under national curriculum all students of class eight have to study an article ‘PratibandhitaO tar Protikar’on basic information of disability, types, causes and intervention; students of class nine and class ten have to study an article ‘OtheyrJonnyoBhalobasha’on love, affiliation, dignity, inclusion and psycho-social aspects of disability. It will remain as a milestone achievement of disability movementin Bangladesh. Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP) is proud to be a part of this movement since 1997. It congratulatesall relevant parties, agencies, activists, individuals as well as authoritiesof the government of Bangladesh for this inclusion. Detailed of this inclusion has been elaborated in the current issue of AWDP disability newsletter ‘Spondon’.

Remarks on this achievement

Congratulation.

I am for disabled and inclusion.
Sami ul Haq Sami
National Disability Advisor-Rights and Advocacy
UNDP/NPAD
***********************************

Dear Br. Ashraf:
First of all, thanks to Allah, the Almighty who by His infinite mercy enabled us the new chapter on disability in the school class room of Bangladesh. W…..o…….w! Warmest congratulations! Words cannot express my appreciation for the endless efforts of all of you.

It is not only a great achievement also will wipe out the plight of the people with disabilities and nation will learn how to treat with them. It is the victory of humanism. I am very proud of you and all.

You all did struggle for the last flower of peace and happiness, Allah, the Most Merciful, granted you all a valuable reward that will change accessible environment soon.

Greeting you all from the heartland of America.

Iftu Bhai
(A person with hearing impairment, Bangladeshi national, staying at US for about twenty years)
*******************

Good achievement, it'll help in building the inclusive society.
M Akram Danish
founder & Chairman
DANISHKADAH
****************************
Dear Mr.Ashraf,
Greetings from Svayam!!!

Congratulations!!! It is indeed a great achievement for the community and AWDP. We wish you all the best in your endeavors for the inclusion of disability in the mainstream.
Best regards,

Kavita Agrawal
Asst Manager
*Svayam*
Jindal SAW Ltd, Jindal Centre, 12, Bhikaiji Cama Place,
New Delhi-110066
**********************************

Dear Mahbubul Ashraf,
Thank you very much for forwarding the information with necessary documents on Inclusion of the disability issue in the text book under National Curriculum in Bangladesh. Undoubtedly it is a great achievement. I congratulate them those who were involved in to this journey.

Thanks & regard

Mosih Uddin Ahmed
Country Coordinator
CBM Country Office, Bangladesh
***********************************

Congratulations!

you may add those pieces in your further email circulation so that some of us can easily get it and comment on own capacities.

however, grateful thanks for incorporating them in your 'spondon'.
It 'spondon's (to make people feel) the life.
S. M. Mayeen Ahmed"

Country Representative, Bangladesh
PANOS South Asia
***********************

Heartiest Congratulations. May your efforts and those
of others succeed in creating more and more awareness in Bangladesh.
C M Shafi Sami
Former Advisor of the Care Taker Government
Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh
**********************************

Dear Ashraf,
This is a great news!
Congratulations to all of you who toiled for this achievement! At last a dream came true!
This shows how a consistent advocacy brings success to one's efforts if that is well motivated and based on a sound logic!
Take the pride of being one who had contributed to the process and I feel proud of your work since I was also some one who initiated the effort, though it is a forgotten history!!
Best wishes,
Dr. Nasir Uddin

Advisor, NATAB and former Executive Director, VHSS

***************************************
Congratulations!

Obviously, it's a great achievement of disability movement having inclusion
the disability issue in text books for the first time under national
curriculum of Bangladesh and it will indeed pace boosting the movement with
strengthening mettle's of all tireless activists who have been fighting for
long to establish a right based society for the PWDs. Best wishes.

Md. Aktar Uddin
Communication and Documentation Officer
ADD-Bangladesh
***************************************

Hope, it will inspire greater achievements and inclusion in near future for which we are yearning for.

Thanks for the great message.

Affably,
Jibon William Gomes
Abilis Facilitator, Handicap International - Bangladesh Office
Plot - CES (D) 4, Road - 125, Gulshan-1
Dhaka -1212, Bangladesh
*******************************************

Dear Asharaf Bhai,
Thanks. Really it is a great achivement for all of us.
I pray to Allah for you that he give you the energy to disseminate such good news.
Md. Moniruzzaman Khan
(An emerging leader with physical challenge from Bangladesh)
*******************************************

Dear Md. Mahbubul Ashraf,
Congratulation! I I had forward this news to our members and among email list. They are excited especially Thai.
We will use your countries as a model for this issues. May we can talk more in Bangledesh.

Best regards,

Saowalak Thongkuay
Regional Development Officer (RDO)
Disabled Peoples' International Asia Pacific Region (DPI-AP)
Email: saowalak@dpiap.org
thongkuay@yahoo.com
*******************************************
Warm felicitation to the Caretaker Government of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh!
The Council of Advisers of the Caretaker Government, Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh has decided to ratify New UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP) warmly felicitates the Honorable Chief Adviser as well as his Council of Advisers for this remarkable decision.
Bangladesh has already signed this Convention on May 9, 2007 as 91st signatory country.
Now it is expected that Bangladesh will ratify this Convention as 8th country of the world.
So far 118 countries have signed on and 7 countries have ratified this Convention.
Jamaica has played a pioneer role by ratifying this Convention as the first country of the world. AWDP also felicitates the Government of Jamaica, for its invaluable contribution to this Convention by ratifying first.
AWDP congratulates all relevant organizations, DPOs, SHOs, fora and the Ministry of Social Welfare of Bangladesh who have extended their all out efforts for influencing the government to ratify this Convention.

Coordinator
AWDP, Bangladesh

Friday, May 9, 2008

AWDP-Bangladesh
Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP) is a non-governmental voluntary organization in Bangladesh, working for improving the ultimate status of persons, women and children with disabilities in the country since April 1996.

AWDP is focused on information communication, training, education, accessibility, participation, rights and dignity of the people with disabilities.

This organization has been comprised of all categories of disabled people, their parents and relevant resource persons.

Mission of this organization is to contribute for improving the socio-economic and cultural condition of people with disabilities through the promotion of information, knowledge, skill, awareness and advocacy.

AWDP has been registered with the Directorate of Social Services, Ministry of Social Welfare and with the NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh. It’s a member organization of National Disability Forum (NFOWD).

AWDP has had program collaboration with National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (NFDDP) and National Social Welfare Council of the Government, Gram Sampad Unnyan Kendro (GRASUK), Unitarian Service Committee Canada-Bangladesh USCCB, Save the Children-Sweden, Centre for Disability inDevelopment (CDD), Action on Disability and Development (ADD), Lepra-Bangladesh and National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD).

AWDP actively contributed in organizing `2nd Regional Conference of CBR Network’ held in Bangladesh in 1997.

AWDP has published Biwako Millennium Framework for Action (BMF) towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific in Bangla and extended its expertise support to theDepartment of Social Services of the government of Bangladesh in the process of mid term review on implementation of the BMF.

AWDP has been well recognized for its universal information communication on disability issues. It publishes a quarterly newsletter `Spondon’



Contact:
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf
Secretary and Coordinator
220/1, Free School Street Kathal Bagan,
Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
Tel: 880 2 8650528, Mob: 880 1712184642
E-mail:
awdpbd@gmail.com

*****

Resource Centre for visually impaired students launched at Central Library of Dhaka University in Bangladesh

A Resource Centre for visually impaired students was launched at the Central Library of Dhaka University (DU) on 16th August 2007. A large number of Teachers of Dhaka University, Students with Visual Impairment, and leaders and activists of disability movement in Bangladesh were present at the launching ceremony. The Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz said such centre is essential to ensure the access of visually impaired students to quality education while inaugurating the Centre.

Initially the resource centre included 72 selected braille books on the requirements of visually impaired students studying in 12 departments and one institute. This resource centre has been established with the financial support of Sightsavers International an UK-based support agency that has been working in Bangladesh since 1973 for the prevention of blindness and promotion of the rights of the blind people. The inaugural function was also addressed by Dr Nazma Kabir, Regional Director of South Asia and Caribbean Unit, Dr Caroline Harper, Chief Executive of Sightsaver International and Prof Iqbal Aziz Muktadir, Director of the Institute of Education and Research.

Launching of this Resource Centre created a strong enthusiasm among all students with Visual Impairment. AWDP-Bangladesh is committed to extend every possible support towards strengthening this Centre.

****

Other useful links
http://dpobd.blogspot.com/