A cultural show arranged by the Autistic Children Development and Welfare Centre, Chittagong, to mark World Autism Awareness Day 2012. The event held at the port city's Shilpakala Academy was rich in the vibrant performances of children living with autism.Photo: STAR

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked businesses and private organisations to provide jobs for autistic and physically-challenged people to utilise their merits in nation-building activities.
“The autistic and physically-handicapped people are our near and dear ones,” she told a programme and urged all to stand beside them, treat them like other people, and help them flourish their talents.
“The present government wants to utilise the talents of the physically-challenged people in building a bright future for the nation,” she told the inaugural function of the Fifth World Autism Awareness Day-2012 at Osmani Memorial auditorium in the city.
The prime minister elaborated the initiatives the present government has taken to facilitate the disabled people.
The government has preserved one percent quota for the disabled and autistic people in all first and second class jobs, including BCS, and 10 percent in class three and class four jobs for the disabled and orphans and the their age-limit for entering the services has been extended up to 40 years.
She said 35 service and support centres have been established across the country.
Autism is a health problem relating to the disorder of neural development which still has no known curing treatment, the prime minister said and called upon all to come forward with utmost sincerely to address the problems.
She cited the names of popular scientists, litterateurs, poets and music composers who passed a certain time of their lives in disability.
Hasina said the government is providing hundred percent salaries and allowances to 55 private schools for disable persons. “A free autistic school has been established in Dhaka,” she said adding that the number of scholarships for them has also been increased.
She also recalled the successes of the disabled persons in the Special Olympic Games and said the government has taken initiatives to establish a symphony orchestra for autistics and mentally impaired children.
The prime minister also mentioned the role of her daughter, Sayma Wazed Putul, in treatment of autistic children in Bangladesh and raising awareness about the issue.
Saima Hossain in her message, read out by the director general of social welfare department, said autism is a growing health problem across the world as one in 88 children are suffering from the disease. The ratio of autism outbreak among children is higher than the combined number of children affected by other common diseases.
She said Global Autism Public Health (GAHP) Bangladesh chapter has taken an initiative to overcome the barriers to taking proper care of the autistic children. Four taskforces comprising parents and professionals are working in the areas of awareness and advocacy, education, service and research on autism, while two more taskforces would be constituted.
On the occasion, the prime minister distributed 10 wheels chairs and five hearing aids among the disabled persons, and witnessed a cultural programme presented by autistic children.
Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid, PM's Adviser Syed Modasser Ali and Social Welfare Secretary Ranjit Biswas were present.