They also called for inclusion of disability issues in national curriculum to help raise awareness in the society.

The speakers said initiatives should be taken to make a correct list of persons with disability (PWD), as there is no current statistics of PWD in the country.

As per World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics in 2003, the number of PWD in Bangladesh is 1.40 lakh covering 10 per cent of the total population, they added.

The workshop titled 'Findings of vulnerability and capacity assessment of PWD in disasters' was organised by Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC) and Handicap International (HI) at the Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

The workshop was supported by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO).

BDPC with the support of HI and ECHO conducted a survey recently in three districts including Dhaka, Sirajganj and Gaibandha with a view to identify the vulnerabilities and capacities for risk reduction through participatory discussion with community people.

Presenting the survey findings on the occasion BDPC Programme Coordinator Moloy Chaki said the survey shows that the major forms of disaster in the three districts include flood and river erosion.

He pointed out that although the government service providing agencies are available for disaster management, people are deprived of those services due to good governance in the institutions.

On the other hand, most people are not aware of the whereabouts and the ways of receiving those services including relief, rehabilitation and fire service provided by the government during the time of disaster, he added.

Moloy said Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country for its geo-physical position suggesting that disability and disaster management issues should be integrated in national development projects.

Representatives from different NGOs, civil society, local government, social workers and government service providing agencies took part in the workshop presided over by BDPC Director Muhammad Saidur Rahman.

The speakers asked for a comprehensive and sustainable risk reduction plan ensuring community participation.

They also emphasised the inclusion of disaster management addressing disability issue in the textbooks that will help dissemination of messages in the society.

Speaking as chief guest, CDMP Deputy Team Leader emphasised the need for listing of PWD and suggested that the Election Commission may take the initiative to count the number of PWD during its door-to-door visit for voter list.

He also stressed the need for community mobilisation in risk reduction mainstreaming the PWD, as the government alone cannot solve all problems.