News Flash
DHAKA, Oct 15, 2025 (BSS) – Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid today said the white cane is not a sign of limitation but a symbol of independence, awareness, and empowerment.
“The white cane represents freedom. It signifies not restriction, but limitless potential. Blindness is not a defeat—it is a new way of seeing the world,” she told a discussion marking World White Cane Safety Day 2025 at the National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (NFDDP) in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Sharmin said under the interim government, the Ministry of Social Welfare, through NFDDP, continues to work for improving the quality of life and protecting the rights of all persons with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired.
The adviser said this year’s theme, “Modernization of White Cane, Development of Visually Impaired Persons,” is both relevant and timely, she noted. “This day is not merely about the white cane—it is a global celebration of solidarity, unity, and the rights of the visually impaired community,” she added.
She said Bangladesh is committed to building an inclusive and discrimination-free society. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Social Welfare, NFDDP is working to integrate persons with disabilities into the mainstream of national development through education, training, employment, and rehabilitation, in pursuit of a hunger- and poverty-free, prosperous Bangladesh.
As part of the observance, NFDDP distributed both regular white canes and modern electronic “smart canes” equipped with sensors among visually impaired individuals free of cost. Each of 100 meritorious visually impaired students also received Tk 5,000 in financial incentives and honorary awards.
Chaired by Social Welfare Secretary Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf, it was also addressed by NFDDP Managing Director (Additional Secretary) Bijoy Krishna Debnath, Center for Disability in Development Senior Coordinator Md Jahangir Alam, Visually Impaired People’s Society President Advocate Md Mosharraf Hossain Majumdar and Bangladesh Disabled Welfare Association General Secretary Dr Md Harunur Rashid.
Currently, NFDDP is implementing a wide range of welfare programmes for persons with disabilities, including free therapeutic and referral services through 103 Disability Service and Help Centres across all districts and 39 upazilas.
It also operates hostels for working men and women with disabilities, and delivers services to remote areas via 45 mobile therapy vans, with 20 new centres under development.
NFDDP also provides grants, assistive devices, artificial limbs, training, and hostel facilities for people with disabilities, while supporting NGOs working in the disability sector.
To promote inclusive sports, arrangements have been made for sports activities for children and youth with disabilities at Shaheed Farhan Faiyaz Field near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, and a sports complex is under construction at Savar, Dhaka.
Besides, under the Department of Social Services, various programmes such as disability allowances, stipends, disability identification surveys, training and rehabilitation centres, and inclusive education projects are being implemented.
So far, 487,818 visually impaired individuals have been identified nationwide through disability surveys, which are ongoing.
