Physically challenged people from different districts staged a demonstration at Shahbagh to press home their 11-point demand including special quota in government service and an increase in monthly allowance.
They gathered at Shahbagh around 9am under the banner of “Sangkhubdho Protibondhi Nagorik Samaj”.
Iftekhar Masud, one of the members of the organization, said: “The budget placed on June 1 did not have any guideline that can meet the needs and desires of disabled people.”
“To address this, we wanted to march towards the national parliament today with our 11 point demands but the police obstructed us.”
Demanding an increase in their allowance, he said: “In 2005, allowance program started with Tk200. Now we are getting Tk850 which is not enough for us.”
Raising monthly allowance to Tk5,000, providing stipends of Tk2,000, quota for them in govt job recruitment, setting up an entrepreneur fund of Tk1,000 crore for disabled entrepreneurs, setting up directorate of development of persons with disabilities immediately, establishing Bangali sign language institutes and schools, ensuring free Bangla sign language interpreting services in all service institutions including courts are among their demands.
