Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism Saima Wazed Hossain on Tuesday called for making a comprehensive database on people with disabilities to integrate them into all policies to make an inclusive society.
She made the call while conducting the plenary session of the 2nd International Conference on Disability and Disaster Risk Management at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the three-day conference.
"It's a significant problem when you do not have data on the persons with disabilities, where they are living, how they are living and as well as what has happened to them afterwards and in addition to how many more people have become disabled due to the experiences of disaster, it compounds the problems," said Saima, also WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in South East Asia Region.
"We have plans for development . . . for both economic or social development, we need to include the persons with disabilities to ensure their needs," she said.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Executive Director of ONG Inclusiva of Chili Carlos Kaiser, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry's Additional Secretary Satya Brata Saha, UNDP Bangladesh Assistant Country Director Khurshid Alam and Employment and Accessibility, People with Disability, Australia Senior Policy Officer Samantha Helen French also addressed the session.
Disaster risk reduction requires engagement and participation of all of a society and it also requires empowerment and inclusive, accessible and non-discriminatory participation paying special attention to people with gender, age, disability, and concerned perspective should be integrated into all policies and practices, he said, reports BSS.