On 10 April 2010, the Disabled Welfare Society (DWS) organized a roundtable meeting on “Challenges of Students with Disabilities and Their Solutions”, held at the National Press Club, Dhaka at 3:00 PM. The event was supported by MJ Foundation.
The meeting was graced by several distinguished guests. Professor Fahima Khatun, Chairman of the Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Dhaka, attended as the Chief Guest. Dr. Siraj Uddin Ahmed, Principal of Dhaka College, and Ms. Nazrana Hira, Program Manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation, were present as Special Guests. Among the Honored Guests were Mr. Jawaherul Islam Mamun, Secretary General of the National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD), the Principal of Titumir College, and Professor Laila Nur Islam, Provost of Rokeya Hall, University of Dhaka. Representatives from various educational institutions, NGOs, journalists, and persons with disabilities also participated. The meeting was chaired by Lion M. Khalilur Rahman, Chairman of DWS.
The program began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a welcome address from the General Secretary of DWS. In his remarks, he highlighted the key challenges faced by students with disabilities in the education sector, including the lack of hostel facilities. Students present at the meeting also shared their personal experiences, raising concerns about admission barriers and the lack of proper support for scribes during examinations.
Through the discussion, a significant proposal emerged—students with disabilities in secondary and higher secondary examinations, as well as at Dhaka University, should be granted an additional 30 minutes of examination time. This was strongly supported by the participants.
The special guests delivered encouraging speeches, and finally, the Chief Guest assured the participants that the concerns and recommendations raised would be seriously considered for implementation. She expressed her gratitude to DWS for creating such an important platform, which enabled policymakers and stakeholders to better understand the real needs of students with disabilities.