a2i celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day for the first time

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) has been celebrated in Bangladesh for the first time this year. To this end, Hon'ble State Minister for Social Welfare Mr. Md. Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, MP was present as the Chief Guest at the function organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare and a2i at BCC Auditorium, Agargaon on Thursday. Mr. NM Zeaul Alam PAA, Senior Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Ms. Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh and Mr. Mohammad Mohsin, Captain of Bangladesh Wheelchair Cricket Team were present as special guests. a2i Project Director (Joint Secretary) Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir presided over the ceremony. Bangladesh Computer Council's e-learning platform 'Emporia', a2i's e-learning platform 'Muktapath' and online job portal 'Bdjobs' were honored for ensuring access to the website of persons with disabilities. The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) was also honored for providing various technical assistance to ensure accessibility of persons with disabilities on the website. In his speech as the chief guest, State Minister for Social Welfare Md. Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru said that the present citizen-friendly government is giving priority to disability in every sector of its development agendas. Bangladesh is one of the first 20 countries in the world to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To ensure the rights and overall development of persons with disabilities, the government has enacted the 'Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013', which calls for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in digital services. The Minister assured that the Ministry of Social Welfare would extend its full support for the observance of the day every year from now onwards to increase the awareness of all about inclusive digital access for persons with disabilities. Highlighting the significant achievements of the ICT department in implementing the Digital Bangladesh Vision, Mr. NM Zeaul Alam, Senior Secretary, ICT Department, said, "We are working towards ensuring that all the development benefits are equally available to all." Inclusiveness has also been emphasized in every project plan of the ICT department so that everyone can benefit from the technology. In addition, activities have been undertaken to make all ICT department websites and digital services accessible to ensure citizen-friendly inclusive digital government services. A guideline on national web and e-service accessibility has already been drafted through a consultation workshop with experts on digital services and disability-related initiatives initiated by a2i. The guideline will be presented to the inter-ministerial meeting soon for finalization. Section 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 deals with ensuring equal access to information and communication technology for persons with disabilities as other citizens, and section 21 provides for the use of services for persons with disabilities in providing information on the Internet. Each of the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mentions inclusive services. It will be possible to ensure disability friendly services by achieving the SDG targets and implementing the concept of ‘Leaving No One Behind’. In his congratulatory speech, Bangladesh Wheelchair Cricket Team Captain Mohammad Mohsin urged all to work hand in hand to make Global Accessibility Awareness Day a success. When all digital services are accessible, people with disabilities will no more fall behind. a2i project director (joint secretary) Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir said in a statement, "We want to move from Bangabandhu's equality to e-quality (electronic quality) by ensuring the participation of all on the way from Digital Bangladesh to Smart Bangladesh." To ensure the participation of all, the Government of Bangladesh signed the first Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008 and enacted the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2013. He also said that in the coming days, the service will not be digitalized separately but will be integrated by connecting each branch. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) has been celebrated on the third Thursday of May every year since 2012 in different countries with the aim of providing digital access and inclusion to more than one billion specially able / disabled citizens of the world. Celebrated for the first time in the country, the day aims to open the door to thinking by making everyone aware of inclusive digital (web, software, and mobile apps, etc.) accessibility and digital technology that helps people with disabilities. The day was organized by a2i under the auspices of the Cabinet Division and the Department of Information and Communication Technology with the overall support of the Ministry of Social Welfare and with the support of UNDP Bangladesh. Ms. Nahid Sultana Mallick, Joint-Project Director (Joint-Secretary) of a2i delivered her welcome address at the function conducted by Mr. Manik Mahmood, Head of Social Innovation Cluster, a2i. Mr. Md. Nahid Alam, Head of CIL presented the concept paper titled Customer Innovation Lab-CIL. Mr. Bhaskar Bhattacharya, National Consultant (Disability), a2i, discussed the accessibility of websites and digital services in Bangladesh. In a cultural program organized to celebrate the day, a song and dance was performed by children with intellectual disabilities and autism, and a play called 'Alor Pakhira' was performed by disadvantaged children of Swedish Bangladesh and 'Nabo Anando'. Chief Innovation Officers of various Ministries / Departments of the Government of Bangladesh, officials of a2i, representatives of various governmental and non-governmental organizations and representatives of various media were present on the occasion.