This year's slogan focuses on mainstreaming the people with disability into society by establishing their right to access to information and communication technology (ICT).

In accordance with the slogan, Bangladesh will also observe the day with a call to ensure the access of the physically and mentally challenged people to ICT.

Since around 10 percent (WHO estimation) of the total population of the country is physically and mentally challenged, experts consider their right to e-access is a must for the development of the country.

"In education sector, worldwide interest is now in ICT, and in many countries visually challenged persons are being able to use Internet through especially developed browsers incorporating the Braille system," said AHM Noman Khan, secretary general of National Forum of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD).

"If we can expand the computer facilities for the people with disability in the country, they can outshine the similar people of other countries in competition," he added.

Some other organisations working with physically and mentally challenged people, however, view the international disability day as an occasion to draw the attention of the political parties of the country to this issue ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

The Action on Disability and Development (ADD) that works with people with disability to promote human rights will observe the day with a call for "democracy, human rights, peace and participation."

"As the parliament election takes place next month, the rights of physically and mentally challenged people to voting and contesting the polls have become a major issue of the day," said ADD Country Representative Mosharraf Hossain.

Implementation of the Disabled Welfare Act

In 2001, the government enacted the "Disabled Welfare Act" that included providing special facilities for the welfare of the persons with different types of disabilities.

The act was introduced to protect and safeguard the rights and dignity of the people with disability and to ensure their participation in social and national programmes.

In order to realise the objectives of the act, a committee titled 'National Coordination Committee for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities' was formed with social welfare minister in the chair.

Representatives of different organisations, however, are not happy with the activities of the committee.

"There is hardly any remarkable achievement of the committee," Noman said, adding that the district level committees do not have any functions.

Mosharraf pointed out that although special facilities for physically and mentally challenged people are included in the welfare act, little has been done when it comes into implementation.

He called for an action plan to execute the provisions of the act to ensure their equal participation in the society.

When contacted, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, immediate past social welfare minister, said there is controversy over the activities of the National Coordination Committee among the organisations working for the people with disability.

While many organisations feel that the committee should be formed only with the people with disability, while other organisations think that inclusion of persons without any disability is also necessary, he said.

Disability in Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)

In a paper presented at a meeting titled 'Donors' Dialogue on Disability' on November 9 this year, Economist Dr Atiur Rahman said the final PRSP sets action in seven different areas including data collection, policy formulation and coordination, access to education, health and public services and ensure income generating activities.

He criticised the government policy of keeping education of the people with disability under the social welfare ministry.

While a 10 percent quota is reserved for them in government services, it is not the case with the private sector, he further noted.

Many, however, allege that 10 percent quota in public sector is not implemented always.

Visually Impaired Most Vulnerable

According to WHO estimation, about 50 percent of the people with disability in the country are visually impaired. Visual impairment is also considered as a public health problem here.

Along with other physically and mentally challenged people, the visually impaired are left out in every sphere of life including education, employment and games.

"The visually impaired people are not allowed to open account in banks," said Sayeed, coordinator of the Institute of Hazrat Mohammad (SAW), a voluntary organisation working with visually impaired persons, adding that they are also deprived of casting votes in elections.

There is a provision for two reserved seats for them at BRTC public buses, but the conductors often show reluctance to manage the seats for them, he lamented.