BARDO marks White Cane Safety Day, calls for greater opportunities for visually impaired people
The Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation (Bardo) has observed World White Cane Safety Day with a rally and a discussion meeting in Dhaka, highlighting the importance of empowering visually impaired people through education, rehabilitation and improved access to assistive technology.
A rally was held on Wednesday, led by Bardo Executive Director Md Saidul Haque. Members of the organisation’s executive and general councils, officials and students of Bardo School took part.
Later in the day, Bardo organised a workshop to mark the occasion under the theme, “Where vision is limited, possibilities are limitless”.
Social Welfare Minister and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain attended the programme as chief guest.
In his speech, the minister pledged to support Bardo’s development, saying he would remain alongside the organisation regardless of where he was. He also expressed optimism that the establishment of a modern digital Braille press at Bardo would help visually impaired students advance their education and expand their opportunities.
Other guests included Md Kamruzzaman Dulal, executive secretary (Grade 2) of the Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council; Mostafa Mostakur Rahim Khan, director of programmes at the Department of Social Services; and Amrita Regina Rozario, country director of Sightsavers Bangladesh.
Social workers, writers, Bardo representatives and officials also attended the event. They included Masudul Alam, Shahina Aowal, writer and social worker Naima Sultana, Bardo Vice-President Jahangir Alam, Ershad Ali, Abdul Mannan, Azmeri Khanam Nishat and Shaharia Shahab Pinky.
Bardo General Council member Ershad Ali and the organisation’s Deputy Manager Firoza Khatun presented the main papers at the discussion.
Executive Director Saidul Haque outlined Bardo’s activities and its efforts to support the education, rehabilitation and social inclusion of visually impaired people.
In his welcome address, Bardo Vice-President Jahangir Alam highlighted the significance of the observance and the need to strengthen support for people with visual impairments.
Bardo President and Senior Supreme Court Advocate Md Mosharraf Hossain Mazumder said the organisation used human resources as guides alongside white canes to help visually impaired people move around safely.
He stressed the importance of boosting the confidence of people who have recently lost their sight and providing them with training in white cane use. He also called for involving more organisations in awareness-raising activities so that the wider public could better understand the role of the white cane in promoting mobility, independence and safety.
The meeting was chaired by Mazumder.
World White Cane Safety Day is observed to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with visual impairments and to promote their independence, mobility and equal participation in society.
