Public Universities have come to a step further to make them disabled friendly

Celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022, Physically-challenged Development Foundation (PDF) has led 10 days-long awareness activities titled "Accessible and Inclusive Campus Campaign 2022" from 2nd to 11th December in more than five public Universities in the country. This campaign aimed to make people more aware of the benefits that can come from mainstreaming persons with disabilities in all parts of academic, social, political, economic, and cultural life, especially the youth group.

This campaign consisted of advocacy meetings, awareness rallies, panel discussions, essay competitions, debates and cultural shows which were held at Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj accordingly between December 2 and 11. Vice-chancellors from the Universities, Registers, Faculty Members, Disability Experts, Development Activists and other officials have joined the events as guests. More than 1000 students were connected with this series of campaigns directly as well as around 5000 youth could be covered through it.

The vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Dr Md. Akhtarujjaman expressed his words at the panel discussion "The scope of admission for students with disabilities in Dhaka University has been expanded recently by the new policy made in 2021-22 to welcome the students with Down Syndrome and intellectual disabilities to get admitted to Dhaka University. Mass awareness is needed to create a fair environment for disabled students."

Additionally, the Vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr Nurul Alam said that they are working relentlessly to make the campus accessible and as part of those initiatives, a Special Corner at the central library of this University has been inaugurated on 3rd December for students with disabilities.

Prof. Dr Golam Shabbir Sattar, the Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University was present as the chief guest of the campaign at the RU campus. On 4th December, after a colourful Rally rounded the campus, in a Discussion he announced that the scholarship amount from the office of Students Welfare would be extended from 5 to 15 for the financially vulnerable students having disabilities. Moreover, the University has decided to fix more ramps and lifts in academic infrastructures, will avail at least one accessible washroom in every residential hall of RU as well.

The week-long IDPD programme concluded with a cultural show titled "Inclusion Chat with Art" held with the collaboration of EMK Center, where the performers on several cultural items were wonderfully performed by young artists with different types of disabilities. 

This campaign is supported by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and UKAID.

Nazmus Sakib, the Team Lead of PDF YouthNet said, "Since its journey began in 2008, PDF aims to improve the quality of life among youth with disabilities by facilitating their personal development and promoting their involvement in all physical and social environmental matters. It seeks to work on the concept of an inclusive society through a group consisting of youth with and without disabilities from a common platform."