Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government will take initiatives to increase allowances for persons with disabilities to improve their living standards. However, the extent of the increase will be determined in consideration of the country’s financial capacity, he added.

The prime minister made the remarks at an exchange meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Protibondhi Kallyan Samity at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday evening (October 17).

The meeting discussed various issues, including improving the living standards of persons with disabilities, expanding their rights and opportunities, and ensuring their participation in society and the economy.

Tarique Rahman said the government was also considering introducing sign language services at various government institutions, courts and hospitals to make essential services more accessible to persons with disabilities.

He said supporting persons with disabilities was a responsibility of both the government and society. The government was committed to addressing shortcomings in this area, he added, stressing the importance of social responsibility alongside government initiatives to improve their quality of life.

The prime minister placed particular emphasis on skills development and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

“Opportunities must be created for them to develop their talents and become economically self-reliant through training. The government will also consider expanding training opportunities for them in the information technology sector,” he said.

Tarique Rahman also instructed the social welfare minister to take the necessary initiatives in this regard. He emphasised creating opportunities for skills development, arranging training and expanding employment prospects to help persons with disabilities achieve economic independence.

The prime minister also highlighted the need for accurate statistics to determine the actual number of persons with disabilities in the country. He said the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics would be given the necessary instructions in this regard.

According to him, reliable data on the number of persons with disabilities and their circumstances would help the government formulate and implement appropriate initiatives for this population group.