Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain stated that the government aims to make persons with disabilities self-reliant and integrate them into mainstream society through education, skill development, and rehabilitation. He made the remarks on Wednesday after visiting the National Foundation for the Development of the Disabled in Dhaka.

The minister said the foundation operates colleges and separate schools for children with hearing, visual, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, with residential facilities for both men and women. He emphasized that the government is working to expand such institutions beyond Dhaka to ensure inclusive education and services nationwide. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he added, the government is committed to building a humane Bangladesh by empowering marginalized communities.

According to the minister, there are about 14 to 16 million persons with disabilities in the country, and 103 centers are currently providing services at district and upazila levels. The goal is to extend disability services to every upazila, offering therapies and training to help transform this population into a productive national resource.