On the occasion of Pohela Boishakh, Samsung and Fair Electronics under the supervision of Nabiha Raida Foundation organized an art camp for special needs children on Tuesday.
The event was held at Samsung Flagship Store at the capital’s Gulshan Avenue, said a press release.
The event was inaugurated with a welcome speech by Ruhul Alam Al Mahboob, chairman of Fair Group, and Huang Sang Woo, managing director of Samsung Electronics Limited.
In this welcome speech, Ruhul said the event was inspired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed.
“These children are our resources. We need to get out of this taboo, with the joint efforts of all. Fair Group will continue to work to create jobs for these special children.”
Huang Sang Woo said: “Samsung's flagship store is open to the public through today's (Tuesday) art camp. Today's initiative with these special children is really remarkable. Samsung is always working towards social development.”
Cultural personalities MP Suborna Mustafa and Afzal Hossain, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Aupee Karim and Iresh Zaker also joined the art camp.
They spent time with the special needs children and provided them with encouragement and motivation, read the press release.
A total of 19 special children from five organizations - Proyash Special Educational Institution, Society for Welfare of Autistic Children, Keraniganj School for the Intellectually Handicapped and Autistic, Hope Autism Center and Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh - participated in an art competition.
The initiative was taken with the help of the Department of Communication Disorders of Dhaka University.
With the help of painters F Rahman Bhutan and Rubina Nargis, the contestants came up with the idea of painting Pohela Boishakh with brush strokes.
At the end of the competition, all participants were declared winners and were awarded medals, certificates and prizes.
Later, the invited guests gave inspirational speeches to all.
Welcoming the initiative, Aupee Karim praised the event and said: "Let all the children of the world laugh, let all the children be well."
Amitabh Reza Chowdhury said: "There is no such thing as a special child. Drawing pictures with children, creating a place of thought, and an inspiration to live as oneself are all very worthy of praise when it comes from corporate sectors."
Iresh Zaker in his remarks said: “Such an arrangement in an elite area is commendable. I am very happy to be attending a wonderful event with special children. With a little bit of our inspiration and courage, we will be able to use their talents and move forward in the days ahead.”
Lawmaker Suborna Mustafa said: “We have to stand as a supportive force of the government not only for our own advertisement but also for our own conscience. More and more business organizations and business people like Fair Electronics have to come forward.”
The program concluded with a closing speech by Fair Group Advisor Major General Hamid R Chowdhury.
Mutasim Dayan, director of Fair Group, Md Mesbah Uddin, chief marketing officer, Hasnain Khurshed, head of communication and corporate philanthropy, JM Taslim Kabir, head of marketing, Saeed Ahmed, and others from Fair Group also participated in the event.