Disability Alliance on SDGs comes into being

Disability Alliance on SDGs comes into being. The Disability Alliance on SDGs, Bangladesh has been formed to work for persons with disabilities and thus contribute to the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The formation of the national alliance was announcement at a seminar at CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday (Nov 16). Abdul Matin Kashru MP, Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability, unveiled the logo of the alliance.

Members of the alliance include Sightsavers, ADD International, Access Bangladesh Foundation, CBM, Turning Point, Centre for Disability Development, National Disability Forum and HelpAge International.

Khondoker Ariful Islam, Country Director of Sightsavers for Bangladesh, has been made convener of the alliance.

Speaking at the seminar as the chief guest, Abdul Matin Kashru, a former law minister, said the present government is working relentlessly for the development of the people with disabilities.

Professor Dr Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary) of General Economics Division under the Planning Commission, Quazi Rosy PM, Vice-president of Parliamentary Caucus on National Planning and Budget, and Sushanta Kumar Pramanik, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare, attended the event as special guests.

Speakers suggested meaningful engagement of the people with disabilities in the national development to attain SDGs.

They said though the government is making changes in policies and programmes to attain the goals, still there are concerns such as inadequate budgetary allocations for lasting changes and unavailability of disaggregated data on disability.

Newly formed Disability Alliance on SDGs, Bangladesh organised the seminar titled ‘SDGs and Disability: Bangladesh Perspective’ Representatives of organizations working for people with disabilities, local and international development experts, academics, NGOs and donor community participated in the seminar.