The New Nation - Internet Edition

On 11 March 2008, Masayuki Inoue, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh signed a Grant Contract amounting to US$ 85,204 (approximately Taka 58 Lakh) with AHM Noman Khan, Executive Director of Center for Disabilities in Development (CDD) for its project "Construction of Training Complex for Craftsman of Artificial Limbs for Disability".

Since its establishment in 1996, CDD has been actively working to improve social and economic status of the handicapped as one of the leading organizations in collaboration with both international and domestic partners. CDD has held various advocacy campaigns in order to raise public awareness and to acquire supports for the handicapped. Also CDD has engaged in human resource development of partner NGOs by sending CDD staffs as trainers and providing teaching materials, course curriculum etc.

Using the grant from Japan, CDD will build a training complex for craftsmen of artificial limbs for disability in Savar. Currently there is no training center for such craftsmen, while it is said that 5,000 to 7,000 craftsmen are needed against 7.8 million disabled population in Bangladesh. Through this project, the Japanese government hopes that artificial limbs will be more available in Bangladesh and that the handicapped will have more opportunities to participate in social and economic activities.

The Government of Japan has been extending Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects through NGOs since 1989 in Bangladesh. A total number of 137 projects have already received grant amounting to US$9.7 million (approximately Taka 66.5 crore).