Sports complex for autistic athletes on cards: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with Bangladesh's floor hockey team of autistic players in her office in the capital yesterday. The team has won gold medal in the Special Olympics World Winter Games, which took place in South Korea recently. Photo: BSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the affluent section of society and non-government organisations to come forward to contribute to the welfare of autistic children and intellectually challenged people.
She said the government would construct a sports complex for the physically challenged players.
The prime minister made the assurance when the gold medal-winning Bangladeshi players with intellectual disabilities in floor hockey in the "Special Olympics World Winter Games" met her at her office.
The game was held in the South Korean City of Pyeong Chang earlier this year.
Dr Shamim Matin Chowdhury, chairman of the Special Olympics, Bangladesh led the delegation.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters.
Congratulating the winning players, Hasina said the participation of the people with mental and physical disabilities in sports and cultural activities must be ensured.
She said when the country's normal players could hardly make such significant achievements in games and sports in international arena, the mentally and physically-challenged players brightened the country's image through winning more gold medals.
The prime minister said inspired by her daughter Saima Hossain Putul, the chairperson of National Advisory Committee, Global Autism Public Health Bangladesh, her government is implementing various measures for the welfare of the autistic and physically-challenged people.
The delegation members praised the prime minister for the initiatives of her government and her daughter to ensure welfare of the physically challenged people and autistic children and creating mass awareness in this regard.
The prime minister also honoured the winning team with Tk 1 lakh each of the 14 players and three coaches for their outstanding performances in the game.