Rights activists and visually impaired persons on Friday urged the government to incorporate white cane safety issues into the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority鈥檚 driving and traffic training modules to ensure better road safety and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The call came at a discussion organized by the Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation at its office in the capital鈥檚 Mirpur, marking White Cane Safety Day.
Bangladesh observed the day on October 15 under the theme 鈥淢odernisation of White Cane, Development of Visually Impaired Persons.鈥�
Speakers said that the white cane is not merely a mobility tool but a symbol of independence, dignity, and safety for people who are blind or visually impaired.
They demanded free distribution of white canes for all visually impaired persons and stronger initiatives to ensure their access to education, employment, and public spaces.
BERDO executive director Md Saidul Haque said that many drivers remain unaware of the importance of the white cane and often park vehicles in ways that block access for people with disabilities.
He called for the installation of audio-assisted traffic systems to help visually impaired pedestrians to cross roads safely and urged for proportionate representation of persons with disabilities in parliament.
BERDO schoolteacher Sher Ali, who is visually impaired, reiterated the demand for the government to supply white canes free of cost.
Samiul Islam, a Grade 10 student at the BERDO school, called for the modernisation of white cane and printing technologies to expand accessibility benefits.
Supreme Court advocate and BERDO Trustee Board chairmen Mosharraf Hossain emphasised that inclusive education is key to real empowerment for persons with visual impairments.
鈥楢ccess to education is the real empowerment of visually impaired people,鈥� he said, urging the government to bring all visually impaired children under the mainstream education system.
National Board of Revenue Member (VAT Policy) Azizur Rahman, BRTA assistant director Siddiqur Rahman, and Department of Social Welfare Director Samir Mollik also spoke at the event.
