NEWS & EVENTS

Background of the Event:

A talk show on Special Children’s Education during Corona pandemic was recorded at the studio of Gazi TV, a well-known satellite channel of Bangladesh. The program was written and directed by Swapna Reza, Advisor of DRRA. Farida Yesmin, Executive Director of DRRA conducted the program where three students with disability attended and talked about the problems, they are facing in this corona pandemic, how their study is hampered and what they need to study smoothly. In this two-episode program, Sabina Hossain, Secretary, Founder of SWAC, Mother of a person with disability; Dr. Sharmin Sultana and Sazzad Hossain; Teacher, 25 No. Baniajury Gov’t primary School attended the program and talked about what problems their organization is facing in this pandemic

Dr. Anwarullah, Managing Director of NDD Protection Trust, Father of a person with disability; Dr. Sharmin Sultana, Asst. Professor, Physiology Dept. of Marks Medical College, Mother of a children with disability virtually attended first day the program. Nasima Begum, NDC, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh and Mother of a children with disability; Nusrat Jahanara, sister of an autistic child virtually attended on the second day of the program and talked about the problems their family member is going through in this pandemic. This program was aired on GTV on 27^th and 28^th December, 2020 at 09:30 p.m. of Bangladesh standard time

Purpose of the Event:

The purpose of this event was to reach out to people and inform them what persons with disabilities can if supported with opportunities. Since the program was broadcasted on one of the most popular satellite TV channels of Bangladesh, it is expected that a big number of people has watched it and learn about the difficulties and struggles that persons with autism face every day. The guests attended the program also discussed what should be done and what their respected organizations are doing for the betterment of persons with autism and other disabilities.

Discussion Point:

The speakers talked about the possibilities and opportunities of persons with autism and other disabilities in Bangladesh. What needs to be done for the ensuring smooth education system of persons with autism and other disabilities, where improvement is needed, what coordination will be effective to solve the matters arose from persons with disabilities, etc are the main discussed points.

Date: 20^th December, 2020

Venue: Channel I Studio, Tejgaon, Dhaka

Organized by: Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA)

Supported by: Muslim Aid-UK, Bangladesh; Liliane Fonds; DRRA

Background of the Event:

A special program named “Young Entrepreneurs with Disability and Sustainable Development” was recorded (later aired) on 20^th December 2020 at Channel I studio. Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) chairman Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad; Syed Shahriar Ahsan, Managing Director, Sadharon Beema Corporation; Syed Almas Kabir, President, BASIS; Rabeya Sultana, Country Director, Muslim Aid-UK, Bangladesh; and self-advocate Shihab, a youth with down syndrome attended the program. Farida Yesmin, Executive Director, DRRA conducted the program.

Swapna Reza, Advisor, DRRA was the writer and directed the program. On the program, the speakers how their respected organizations can work for sustainable development of youths with disabilities. All of them have agreed to work together for the betterment of those group as it is impossible to achieve the goals of sustainable development if a certain group is left behind and can’t contribute in the development of a country.

Purpose of the Event:

The purpose of this event was to reach out to people and inform them what needs to be done for the sustainable development of persons with disabilities. It also focused on what youths with disabilities can if supported with opportunities. Since the program was broadcasted on one of the most popular satellite TV channels of Bangladesh, it is expected that a big number of people has watched it and learn about the difficulties and struggles that persons with disabilities face every day. The guests attended the program also discussed what should be done and what their respected organizations are doing for the betterment of persons with disabilities.

Discussion Point:

The speakers talked about the possibilities and opportunities of persons disabilities in Bangladesh. What needs to be done for the ensuring participation of persons with disabilities, where improvement is needed, what coordination will be effective to solve the matters, etc are the main discussed points.

Output from the Event:

Since this program was telecasted on one of the most popular TV channels of Bangladesh, it is expected that persons with disabilities will receive an effective solution to their problems soon. 

Schedule of the Event:

This program was recorded and edited in Channel I studio in Tejgaon, Dhaka. It was a one-day long program, aired on Channel I on 20^th December, 2020. The promo of the program was shown regularly before telecasting.

Date: 03^rd December, 2020

Venue: Jatiya Press Club (National Press Club), Dhaka

Organized by: Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA)

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020 

Background of the Event:

Disabled Rehabilitation and Research Association (DRRA) has organized a press conference on 3^rd December, 2020 to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disability. The conference was arranged at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia hall of the National Press Club. “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World” – following the theme, persons with disability and their families attended the conference as chief guests. Swapna Reza, Advisor of DRRA conducted the conference where Kamrul Islam, renowned Bangladeshi poet, writer and member of DRRA Executive Committee; Concern Bangladesh representative; Farida Yesmin, General Secretary of National Press Club; and Lotton Ekram, Chief Reporter of Dainik Samakal was present as special guests.

Purpose of the Event:

The purpose of organizing this press conference was to give make platform for persons with disabilities. So that they can share their current situation in front of media and concern authorities that works for the betterment of persons with disabilities. The focus of the conference was to emphasize the health condition, education, financial security of persons with disabilities and bring them back into employment.

Discussion Point:

The conference highlighted the current situation of persons with disability, their problems and difficulties in this COVID-19 pandemic. The special guests listened to the speakers (youths with disabilities) and then talked about possible solution to their problems.

All of them talked about the current situation of people with disability in Bangladesh, listened to the demands and dreams of the youths with disability and what is needed to be done for the solution of their problem. This press conference got massive media coverage from multiple satellite channels (Channel I, ATN Bangla, Boishakhi TV, etc.) and many print media coverage (Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Samakal, Daily Sun, Daily New Age; etc).

Date: 10^th & 11^th December, 2020

Venue: DRRA Studio, Gulshan, Dhaka

Organized by: Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA)

Supported by: Liliane Fonds; Muslim Aid-UK, Bangladesh; Labib Group; & DRRA

Background of the Event:

For the First Time in Bangladesh, Disabled Rehabilitation and Research Association (DRRA) has organized a two-days online conference, named “Online Summit for Youth with Disabilities” on 10 and 11 of December, 2020, in a hope that youth with disabilities get some opportunities to turn around in the post-COVID situation by ensuring their financial security. Due to recent Corona pandemic, the summit was organized in a different dimension with an emphasis on hygiene, maintaining social distance and to move forward towards digitalization. Netherlands based organization Liliane Fonds, Muslim Aid-UK, Bangladesh and Labib Group worked with DRRA as co-partners to implement the program. Satellite channel, Channel I was the media partner of this online summit. 

Purpose of the Event:

The goal of this online summit was to create a platform, promote initiatives and business ideas of young entrepreneurs with disabilities in Bangladesh. The target group was young people with disabilities who wants to start their business, but can’t due to financial crisis.

Discussion Point:

Total 2164 young entrepreneurs with disabilities and other youths with disabilities registered from all across Bangladesh to participate in the summit. Among the participants, all registered to attend the summit and 155 youths with disability registered to participate the competition as young entrepreneurs to start or promote their business initiatives.  

Mr. MA Mannan, MP and Honorable planning minister of Gov’t of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, inaugurated the summit on 10^th December. Noble economist and chairman of Palli Karmashayak Foundation (PKSF), Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad was present on 11^th of December as the chief guest of the online summit. Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad announced the names of top 20 young entrepreneurs with disabilities on the second day of the summit. The summit was also attended by Farida Yesmin, Executive Director, DRRA; Rabeya Sultana, Country Director, Muslim Aid-UK, Bangladesh; Mr. Steven Berlekom, Director, Liliane Fonds, Netherlands; Shabnam Jahan Shila, MP, People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Kamrul Islam, Renowned Bangladeshi Poet & Writer, Executive Committee Member, DRRA; Sultana Jahan, Vice Chairman, Labib Group; Shohrab Hassan, Joint Editor, The Daily Prothom Alo; Mr. Murteza Rafi Khan, CEO, Bangladesh Business and Disability Network; Mr. Almas Kabir, Chairman, BASIS; Syed Shahriar Ahsan, Managing Director, Sadharon Beema Corporation; Kazi Rabeya Ame, Rural Manager, Oxfam in Bangladesh; Nasima Akter, Chairman, National Council of Disabled Women; Mr. Forhad Reza, Executive Director, SMUS; and many others.