Aggrieved disabled civil society leaders place 11-point demand

A group of disabled people under the banner 'Sangkhudda Pradibandi Nagarik Samaj (SPNS) put forward an 11-point demand including increasing the disability allowance to Taka 5,000 in the next national budget. "We're now getting Taka 850 as disability allowance which is not enough for us. We request the government to increase the allowance to Taka 5,000 in the budget for fiscal year 2024-25," they said at a press conference at Jahur Hossain Chowdhury conference hall of Jatiya Press Club here today. SPNS members have been maintaining inhumane life as they are deprived of various opportunities of the government, they said and urged the government to create jobs for disabled people in both public and private sectors. SPNS leaders said they will give a memorandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina next week in support of their demands. They will also give the memorandum to the Deputy Commissioners (DC) as part of their programme, they added. Their demands also include formulation of a special policy reg arding recruitment of disable people to the government jobs and creating a disability fund of Taka 1,000 crore through the Bangladesh Bank in the next budget. SPNS leader Major (retd) Md Zahirul Islam, its convener Sabrina Sultana, member secretary Iftekher Mahmud and Uzzala Bonik were, among others, present at the press conference. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha