DBBL's support for Club Foot Operation

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program arranges free surgical operation for children and adolescents with club-feet. DBBL is one of the large and reputed private bank and is well-known for its good contribution to the social causes in Bangladesh.

At present Dutch Bangla Bank Foundation invites applications from people with club feet and relevant stakeholders from around the country by September 30, 2009. Click on the newspaper advertisement in Bangla. For further information and assistance Mr. Tufael Ahmed, Senior Officer, DBBL could be contacted at ‘Dutch Bangla Bank Foundation, Sena Kallyan Bhaban (5^th Floor), 195 Motijheel Commercial Area, Dhaka 1000 or through Tel: 7176390-93, Fax: 9561889.

Previously DBBL, under its Smile-Brighter Programme has organised a four-day long plastic surgery operation camp at the bank's own cost at Popular General Hospital in Pabna district town from April 11 through 14. A plastic surgery team consisting of 10 members headed by the eminent plastic surgeon Dr AJM Salek has conducted the operation.

AWDP highly appreciates DBBL for all its efforts for people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Resource Mobilization Roundtable for DPOs in Bangladesh

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organized a National Roundtable on ‘Donors’ Support to DPOs in Bangladesh’ at BIAM Auditorium on 12 July 2009.

A good number of representatives from Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) and leaders with disabilities from around the country participated in the discussion. This discussion was unique in a sense that it created an opportunity for direct sharing of small NGOs, DPOs and grassroots organizations with the representatives of three donor agencies DRF, ABILIS and ADD.

It was a very useful and time-worthy effort by ADD on the eve of DRF Grant Making Announcement. This discussion session included information sharing on resource mobilization for DPOs in Bangladesh and capacity building. Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk in this discussion was significant. He shared the key issues of grant application process for Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh.

Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk was significant. He shared many important issues on grant application process of Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh. Michael informed that the DRF Call for Proposal will be opened on 15 July 2009 and ends on 15 September 2009. He mentioned DRF provides funding as well as technical support to the applicants and strictly follows the time line. All relevant information will available on DRF website. He requested ADD to facilitate interested organizations in this regard.

The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid MP was the Chief Guest of the program while ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD presided over the discussion. The Chief Guest in his speech emphasized on donor support to disabled peoples’ organizations and to disseminate proper information on resource mobilization, rights and development to people with disabilities and all relevant stakeholders. He mentioned that the government is keen to take special measures for employment of people with disabilities. It has already doubled the budget for the development of the people with disabilities in the fiscal year 2009-10. He also urged for a public private partnership and coordinated efforts for a meaningful advancement of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD and Chair of this session stressed on a participatory process of development including drafting of the law for people with disabilities in Bangladesh. Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP), on behalf of its members and Executive Council conveys it’s thanks to ADD management to organize such an useful and time-worthy initiative when DRF representative Michael Szpurluk was on a monitoring visit to Bangladesh.

Manju's Publications on Disability

Publication Ceremony of Fahmida Manju Majid's short story 'Se Bari Nei' and a children's poetry`Chorano Chora' was held at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka on 3 July 2009.

The short story 'Se Bari Nei' is a children's story on Autism. The whole story is composed on a growing child having autism. It also focused on misunderstandings, difficulties and struggle of the family during rearing up such children.

The other book `Chorano Chora' is its 3rd edition, a poetry of fifty poems for children. The writer focused on strong awareness and motivational messages on all categories of children with disabilities through these poems. She viewed children, adolescents and girls with disabilities from the dimension of challenge, ability and success.

Leftist politician Haider Akbor Khan Rono, renowned Educationalist and pioneer Environment Activist Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of GK and social change activist Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, educationalist Principal Shamse Ara Hossen, writer Ahmed Mazhar, poet Maruf Raihan and Sabina Hossen, Principal of SWAC spoke on the occasion while Dr. Shamim F Karim, Chairman, Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka presided over the ceremony. Celebrity Drama actress Shirin Bakul recited from one of the publications in her melodious voice in the ceremony.

Fahmida Manju Majid is the foremost writer in Bangladesh who has written a good number books of poems and short stories on multi-dimensional interactions of disability at individual, familial and social contexts.

Fahmida Manju is a psychologist, creative therapist, writer and a renowned storyteller of both hemispheres. Manju Majid is well known in Bangladesh as a media personality. She introduced disability program series in Bangladesh Television titled 'Sobar Shathe' and continued for about six years. She spent a long time in UK working for children with Down's Syndrom and Autism. She got British Nationality and worked for children with disability and BBC Bangla Service for a long durarion.

Fahmida Manju Majid is a caring lady with strong feelings for children and persons with disabilities. She has a close observation on the difficulties and impact of disability on the family, parents, neighbours and others in the society.

AWDP Treasurer Antora Ahmed and Coordinator
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf facilitated the program. AWDP wishes for a wider circulation of both the publications and good health to the writer.