Bangladesh Business & Disability Network (BBDN) with the support of Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) organized a half-day long sensitization session disability inclusion for FICCI Members. The event held On 6th February, Thursday, 2022 in Police Plaza BEF Office.
On 30th September 2021, BBDN has signed an MoU with FICCI to outline mutually benefiting activities focused on disability inclusion amongst multinationals. As per the MOU, the engagement between both organizations has kicked off with this sensitization session. BBDN and FICCI wish to organize many more offset sensitization sessions in various capacities throughout 2022 and beyond.
Mr. Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, Founder Trustee, BBDN graced the event as chief guest and T. I. M. Nurul Kabir, Executive Director, FICCI was present as special guest. Mr. Asif Iqbal Chowdhury, Business Development Advisor, BBDN has moderated the entire event.
At the very beginning, Mrs. Aziza Ahmed, Head of Operations, BBDN presented an overview of BBDN’s operations and activities. Then Mr. Rejaul Karim Siddiquee, OPD engagement officer, International Disability Alliance, and Abdur Rakib, Project Manager, ADD International, Bangladesh did a sensitization session on disability inclusion to sensitize the employers and representatives of different organization who have participated in the event and give a brief about Organizations of Persons with disabilities.
Mr. Prokash Roy, Chief Commercial Officer, BDjobs shared a brief presentation regarding the access to employment of upcoming job fair and an introduction on digital employment pathway for persons with disabilities.
Then Mr. Golam Kibria, Senior Program Manager, BBDN, did a presentation on an Introduction of ‘Ergonomic Assessment’ and ‘Universal Design Concept’ for improving productivity at the work environment.
Mr. Mizanur Rahman, Marks and Spencer Bangladesh and Mr. Abul Kalam, Urmi Group shared the journey of how they have made their organization as disability confidence and positive experiences to work with PWDS through a nice presentation.
Then Participants were actively joined in open floor discussion and shared their views and questions from their end with the event organizer. Mrs. Aziza Ahmed, BBDN answered all the questions of participants.
- I. M. Nurul Kabir, Executive Director, FICCI thanked BBDN greeted and thanked all the distinguished guests, trustees, members, and partners of BBDN present at the event. He also thanked FICCI members to participate in the event and requested them to participate in BBDN’s upcoming job fair with active vacancies.
At the end of the program, the respected trustee of BBDN, Mr. Monsur Ahmed Choudhury, gave his valuable speech where he highlighted his journey with BBDN and how far the disability inclusion work has progressed. He stated that employment is a constitutional right for persons with disabilities and emphasized the importance of independence and overall capacity development for PWDS. He appeared to suggest considering skills and abilities during the employment of persons with disabilities and make ensuring equal employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
The event Mrs. Aziza Ahmed, Head of Operations, BBDN thanked everyone for their participation disability sensitization meeting during her closing remarks.
Representatives from Urmi Group, ACS Textiles, Marks & Spencer, Robi Axiata Ltd, Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd, MetLife Bangladesh, Bdjobs, Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh, Singer Bangladesh Limited, Japan Tobacco International, Unilever Bangladesh Limited, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC were present in the meeting.