Hope for Viewers with Hearing & Speech Disability

The government of Bnagladesh has decided to bridge information gap with people with Hearing & Speech Impairment by the promotion of sign language interpretation through Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels in the country. It has created a big hope for Viewers with Hearing & Speech Impairment to be brought under National Electonic Media coverage as other citizens of the country.

The honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed has signed this decision on 25 January 2009 and has publicly declared while inaugurating the month long Ekushe Book fair at Bangla Academy court yard, at Dhaka on 1 February 2009.

A long held urge of the viewers with hearing & Speech impairment is expected to be met through this declaration of the honorable Prime Minister. In this regard, Disability Section of the Ministry of Social Welfare has circulated a letter dated 27.01.2009, to the Ministry of Information and other relevant stakeholders for execution of this decision.

Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP)-Bangladesh congratulates the honorable Prime Minister for this decision, Ministry of Social Welfare and other relevant governmental authorities, Disability Activists and other Civil Society representatives who have made it done through their relentless advocacy and motivation.

AWDP draws kind attention of all concerns to the letter of the Ministry of Social Welfare where it mentions for sign language interpretation of important news. We think If selection of important news is done the full benefit of this decision may not go in favour of viewers with Hearing and Speech disability. Because, we have observed fortnightly special news bulletin with sign language interpretation in BTV which given important information to viewers with Hearing and Speech disability but couldn't make them update with day to day information and issues. Thus, our earnest request to the relevant authorities to telecast at least one National News daily through sign language interpretation without making any selection of importance.