Hearing and speech impaired can now take customer service from GP

Grameenphone, the country's leading mobile operator, yesterday launched a sign language tutorial platform as part of its efforts to enable those with hearing and speech impairment to get customer service.

"Now we are a family of 76.5 million and it is our responsibility to serve everyone in our network, which includes the hearing and speech impaired community," said Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of Grameenphone, at the event held The Westin hotel in Dhaka.

A part of Grameenphone's 'Kothagulo Hariye Na Jak Shobder Obhabe' campaign, the the Sign-Line digital care service enables interested individuals to learn the basics of gesture-based communication through a tutorial video by sign language expert Arafat Sultana Lata.

The tutorial is available on Grameenphone's website, self-service digital care app MyGP and YouTube channel.

The service is dedicated to and operated by hearing and speech impaired individuals.

The integration of 'Sign-Line,' a sign language based video tutorial service will help serve millions to that end, Azman said.

"The benefits of communication technology must reach and include everyone in our society," he added.

The month of February signifies sacrifice and achievement with February 21 being commemorated as 'International Mother Language Day.' However, sign language, the primary medium of communication for the hearing and speech impaired, lacks the validation it deserves, said the operator in a press release.

This initiative taken by Grameenphone will bring this essential skill to the forefront of mainstream society.

Although Bangladesh has a tremendous number of hearing and speech impaired individuals, the opportunities to learn sign language are inadequate. As a result the impaired are unable to properly communicate with the general population.

It is time to widen digital inclusion, which will in turn empower our society and contribute to the journey to become 'Digital Bangladesh'.

The digital platform is committed to minimising the language barrier and reduce inequalities just before the country observes International Mother Language Day on February 21, Azman said, adding that the internet provides easy access for learning such skills.

A team of sign-language experts led by Arafat Sultana Lata also sang Ekusher Gaan 'Amar Bhai Er Rokte Rangano' on the occasion.