What they need is a change in society's attitude towards them, proper care and attention, and exclusive education.

Speakers expressed this view at a regional seminar on childhood disability that began yesterday in the capital.

Bangladesh now has over 4.5 million children with disabilities needing urgent attention, they said.

They however appreciated the efforts for development of handicapped children in the last three decades.

Foundation for the Develop-mentally Disabled and Shishu Bikash Network jointly organsied the three-day seminar sponsored by Unicef, Unesco and Department For International Development, UK.

Over 250 professionals, parents, children with disabilities and other stakeholders from all over Bangladesh are taking part in the seminar.

About 40 representatives from various countries of South East Asia, USA, UK and Japan have joined the seminar and many others are coming to attend it, organisers said.

Inaugurating the seminar in the morning, Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid stressed three aspects to prevent child disability -- proper care to pregnant mothers, happy family life, and special attention to mothers and children during natural disasters.

He also urged the world community to make the world free from war to ensure safe future for children. The ratio of disabled children is much higher in war-ravaged and disaster-prone countries, he said.

The minister mentioned that the ratio of disabled people in war-affected Afghanistan is over 20 percent of the total population while the average ratio of the disabled in other developing countries is around 10 per cent.

Describing government efforts for welfare of the disabled in the country, the minister hoped they would find proper place in the society shortly.

The inaugural session was also addressed by Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University S M A Faiz, Unesco Country Representative Wolfgang Vollman, James Jenning of Unicef, Prof Peter D Pumfrey from UK, Prof Sultana S Zaman, Prof Nausheba Khatun and Shirin Z Munir.

Faiz said disabled children could be integrated into the society only through proper education.

Vollman said the issue of disability should be addressed every day, instead of observing a day for the handicapped. Unesco is working hard to improve their lot, he added.

He stressed public and private sector cooperation to create a better environment for the disabled.

Sultana said people are gradually realising that handicapped people have the right to get proper education and healthcare, and live a normal life.

Pumfrey underscored action-based vision for the betterment of children with disability.

A number of papers were presented at the working session of the seminar in the afternoon. National Professor M R Khan chaired the session.

Prof Naila Zaman Khan presented a key-note paper on prevention and early detection of childhood disability.