The National Disable Welfare Foundation, National Disable Forum, Department of Social Service and Ministry of Social Welfare co-organised the discussion marking the International Disability Day yesterday.

Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mujahid, minister for social welfare, said disability caused by malnutrition and lack of medical facility is on the decrease.

He said people in Bangladesh have better family life than in other countries, which reduces the number of cases of mental disability. "We face a fewer number of suicide cases and divorce cases that lead to mental insanity," he said.

Referring to this year's theme of the disability day, "A voice of our own", which was chosen by the United Nations, the speakers stressed that disabled people should be consulted first before any measure for their treatment is taken.

"There are some loopholes in the Disable Welfare Law 2001 since it was not discussed with the disabled beforehand," said Khondoker Zahurul Alam, president of the National Disable Forum. However, he added, the law is undergoing changes.

Disabled people generally face much inconvenience but disabled women are subjected to more discrimination, said Mahua Pal, deputy director of the Centre for Rehabilitation of Paralysed (CRP). She said disabled women are more neglected in society as well as in the family than their male counterparts.

Valerie Taylor, CRP coordinator, said policy makers should think of equal opportunity. "All of us have some sorts of disability but God looks on us equally and following that we should ensure equal opportunity for men and women," she said.

The speakers mentioned nine-point measures taken by the government to ease the plight of the disabled. Separate ticket counters for the disabled in railway stations, bus terminals, airports and ferry terminals have been proposed.

Moreover, a certain number of seats in every public transport has been proposed to be reserved for them. The government also ordered ramp in every government office to facilitate smooth movement on wheel chair for the disabled, the speakers said.

The government has also decided to reserve one per cent seats for the disabled in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations, said Zahurul Alam. He urged the minister to ensure the implementation of the order.

Akhter Hossain Khan, director, Department of Social Service, Abdul Hai, member of parliament and president of the parliamentary committee in the social welfare ministry, Abdul Karim, joint secretary of the social welfare ministry and Ishaque Bhuiyan, managing director of National Disable Welfare Foundation, among others, spoke.

The discussion was followed by the inauguration of a fair displaying products made by disabled people at the Department of Social Service premises.