There are nearly 47,500 people currently living in the country with autism, Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed has said.
The Department of Social Services has identified and prepared a database of 1,644,000 people in the country who are “differently-abled,” including those with autism. At present, around 1,000,000 of them are receiving allowances from the government, he added.
The minister disclosed the information while addressing a press conference at the Social Welfare Ministry on Monday, ahead of World Autism Awareness Day to be observed on Tuesday. State Minister for Social Welfare Sharif Ahmed was also present at the press conference, among others.
The theme of this years’ Autism Awareness Day is “assistive technology, active participation.”
“The present world is highly technology based, and Bangladesh is marching forward. Internet services have now reached the villages. People with autism also need to be included in technological advancement,” the minister said.
The ministry will organize an event to mark the day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The prime minister will honour a number of people who have become successful despite living with autism, by awarding them crests and Tk50,000 each.
A number of people and organizations who have been working to help people with autism will also be honoured.
Various other programs to mark the day have also been planned throughout the country, including the set up of blue lights for three days.
