They also called for temporary or permanent ramp at all polling centres, separate room on the ground floor, introduction of tactile ballot for use by visually impaired people and massive awareness programme to ensure participation of 75 lakh voters with disability in the forthcoming election.

National Council of Disabled Women (NCDW), National Grassroots Disabled People's Organisation (NGDO) and Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organised the seminar in the city to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons.

The day will be observed today with the slogan 'e-accessibility'.

ADD Country Representative Mosharraf Hossain observed that while only four percent of people with disability get access to education, it is impossible to achieve e-accessibility now.

On behalf of the physically challenged persons, Fazlul Azim delivered the keynote speech while Akhtar Hussain, a member of Fulabria Union, placed their demands.

Former lawmaker GM Quader called on them to add another demand for reserved seats in parliament to ensure their representation.

Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, former chief adviser of a caretaker government, however, ruled out the need for such provision, saying that the outcome of such provision was never satisfactory.

"Rather, you must contest the elections directly since you have got extraordinary intellect from the nature," he told the physically challenged people.

Justice Rahman also called on them to raise their voice to establish their rights. They must follow every step of democratic process to make sure that their names are enlisted on the voter list and they can cast their votes properly, he added.

Referring to the glorious achievements of the physically challenged people in the special Olympic, former adviser to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan said that while the persons with disabilities are striving for their democratic rights, able-bodied people are making the country crippled.

Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said the state and society are bound to fulfil the fundamental rights of all the citizens.

Umme Kulsum Ranjana, president of NCDW, reiterated the implementation of their demands, saying that the country cannot move forward without the participation of physically challenged people in the nation-building activities.