September 07, 2014
Development Updates
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In Bangladesh, like in many other developing countries, neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism are basically seen through the lens of misinformation and stigma. Despite having numerous complexities and challenges, both within country as well as in the global context, Bangladesh is playing a commendable role in undertaking appropriate policies, and social awareness and intervention programs to mitigate the emerging and increasing problem of autism. The country was also being recognised globally as an exemplar for combating autism with measures to register child births, raising awareness and providing psychological support and physical nourishment of the autistic children.
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Breaking the shackle of traditional practices women are, now, increasingly participating in all sectors ranging from agriculture to politics, which has made great impact to the national development. The visible changes in women’s political and economic participation throughout the country demonstrate the government commitment and people’s aspiration to a more equitable society. Government’s pro-women policies are setting model for the world to follow in terms of assuring economic, social, administrative and political partaking; health security; educational attainment; as well as social and legal protection of women.
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Being a highly natural disaster prone country Bangladesh has faced over 219 natural disasters in between 1980 and 2008, causing damage over US$16 billion in total. All these natural disasters pose a great threat to sustainable development of the country. The government, therefore, is taking several policies and programmes to shift the paradigm of disaster management from response and recovery culture to a risk reduction culture. For setting the benchmark of adopting more holistic approach to risk reduction Bangladesh has been increasingly recognised as a leader worldwide.
Youth Voice in Politics & Development
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Centre for Research and Information (CRI) organised a Policy Café on “Prioritizing Neurodevelopemental Disorders” with the global mental health advocate and Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Autism & Neurodevelopment Disabilities, Bangladesh. An intermixing group of participants including young social activists, young relevant professionals, and representative from Government & non-government organisations were the partakers of the program. This event was an initiative to raise awareness on a sensitive topic of contemporary significance. Simultaneously, it worked as a platform for youth to know more about Saima herself, and her contribution, who has been the vanguard of raising responsiveness on this topic and prioritizing policy issues both in national and international arena.
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On 22nd July 2014 (Tuesday), Centre for Research and Information (CRI) arranged a Policy Study Circle on “Prioritizing Neurodevelopmental Disorders”. About 60 students from various universities, and activists and social workers took part in this shared learning session. To meet the queries and sensitize the participants there were three distinguished experts named Mr. Muzharul Mannan (Consultant Neurologist & Training Coordinator, CNAC, BSMMU), Qazi Afroza Sultana (Special Educator & Vice Principal, Proyash), Sajida Rahman Danny (President, Parents Forum for the Differently Able). Additionally, as the policy stakeholders of the country, the young activists and students prioritized a number of issues, notably, developing a culture of tolerance & understanding, special needs’ schools & trained teachers, need for early screening & diagnosis, raising awareness in rural niches, accessibility of disabled persons in job sectors and others.
Youth Platforms
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Since its inception, Centre for Research and Information (CRI) has been working as the avenue for the youth. To carry out the momentum in a wide-ranging way and connect youth from both urban and rural belt, CRI is taking super initiative named “Young Bangla”. With the aim of bringing together young activists, entrepreneurs, youth organisations, policy makers, the potential investors and inspiring social change leaders under an umbrella initiative- Young Bangla National Youth Summit is going to be held on November, 2014.
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Young Bangla is cherished to be a platform to connect all the dots between past, present, future and also between the experienced and the youth energy in the single mission to renovate our country as the Role model to the world. To translate the projection into a reality the national coordination meeting of “Young Bangla Youth Summit 2014” was held on 6th July at Nabab Nawab Ali Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University where representatives from more than 180 youth organisations from different parts of Bangladesh were present. The representatives from the convening organisations and also honourable members from Bangladesh National Parliament- Ms. Tarana Halim MP, Mr. Razee Mohammad Fakhrul MP, Mr. Tanvir Shakil Joy, Ex-MP and the convener of the summit Mr. Nahim Razzaq MP were present at the meeting.
Centre for Research and Information
House 2, Road 11 (new) 32 (old)
Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209
Tel: +88029111260, Fax: +88029111319