About 10% of the total population of Bangladesh is disabled

Current statistics show that about 10% of the total population of Bangladesh is disabled. In terms of absolute number, it is about 13 million people. It is more alarming to note that, with the increase in population, each year another 2,40,000 to 2,60,000 more disabled people join the already existing 13 million. It is important to realise that many of these disabilities might have been prevented if there had been health awareness and timely intervention. Lack of knowledge about disabilities as well as fear and superstition result in negative attitudes towards the disabled. As a result, many of these people have little or no access to basic rights like education and employment.

In 1982 the United Nations took up the cause of people with disabilities and declared 1983-1992 the Decade of the Disabled person. the aim was to create equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and their full participation in families, communities and countries. In 1992 the Economics and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific proclaimed 1993-2002 the Asian and Pacific Decade of the Disabled Person. The proclamation of the second decade was needed as the first decade of 1983-1992 had not brought much change to the lives of people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region. The United Nations declared December 3^rd the International Day for the Disable. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Bangladesh has declared the first Wednesday of April, the National Day for People with Disabilities.