They said the disabled have social and equal rights in the society constitutionally. But, due to inadequate financial assistance, they are always deprived of their rights.

They said the disabled are not the burden of the country or the economy, they have ability to join hand in promoting national economy and development.

They were addressing a workshop on "Rights of Disabled Person in the National Budget" at the auditorium of Department of Social Service in the city.

Action on Disability and Development (ADD), an UK based international organisation, arranged the workshop. Representatives of the disabled from 23 districts participated in the workshop.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are around 1.4 crore disabled people in Bangladesh, said Yakub Ali, secretary of Badda Disabled Convening Committee.

He said, "The huge number of disabled people can become an asset of the country if the government provides proper finical support to them."

Demanding a transparent micro credit facility for the disabled, Dina Akhtar, a representative of the disabled people, urged the government to provide micro credit facility to them through National Disabled Foundation.

Speaking as chief guest Hafizul Islam Miah, director general of Department of Social Service, said the government has already taken some initiatives to ensure the rights of disabled people.

"But it is not enough," he said. He urged the disabled to highlight their rights to the government.

"We are discussing with the government about one percent quota facility for the disabled for the first class government job," he said.

Rafiqul Islam, president of Badda Disabled Convening Committee, Saidur Rahman, team leader (capacity cultivation) of ADD, Tamjida Zannati, programme development officer of ADD, also spoke.