Bashundhara Group to help fulfil their dreams

The air in the SWID Auditorium was reverberating with a dazzling display of medals and mettle, brains and brawn. It was a great moment to toot the trumpet of the differently able children who earned laurels for the nation. They are musically inclined too. Many have a beautiful singing voice. They are SWID participants among 82 Bangladeshi athletes who performed in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. Of the total 79 medals secured by Bangladesh in Los Angeles that hosted the multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities, SWID participants alone bagged 18 gold medals. The medalists were given an enthusiastic welcome at a glitzy reception at the SWID Bangladesh office in the capital’s Eskatan Garden area on Tuesday. Society for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled (SWID)-Bangladesh held the event, sponsored by Bashundhara Group, country’s leading business conglomerate, to honour those who really made things happen on world stage. State Minister for Textile and Jute Mirza Azam was present at the event as chief guest while Dilara Mostafa, president, SWID’s Manikganj chapter, and Yeahsa Sobhan Nabila, a director of Bashundhara Group, as special guests. Yeahsa Sobhan said Bashundhara Group will continue with such efforts to help nurture talents of the children with intellectual disabilities. “It’s a matter of great pleasure that the children with disabilities are exploring their many artistic talents. In future, they will contribute to the development of the country as well as for the welfare of its people,” she added. Congratulating the winners, Yeahsa Sobhan said, “You have brought honour and prestige for the country through winning medals. Go ahead and Bashundhara Group is with you. We’re committed to doing more to fulfil your dream.” On behalf of the corporate giant, the group director handed Tk 5,000 to each winner and declared to be the sports sponsor of SWID Bangladesh in future as a channel to help explore the full potential of the children. Yeahsa Sobhan also urged the people to extend their love for the differently able children and stand beside them. Meanwhile, Mirza Azam said once the children with disabilities were considered a burden of the family, but they have now proved their worth and capabilities. The government has taken various projects for the development of the disabled children, he mentioned. He also promised to set up a training centre for the people with disabilities in each district. Chaired by SWID Bangladesh president Mohammed Moslem, additional secretary to PMO Kabir Bin Anwar, social welfare ministry additional secretary Khandker Atiar Rahman and National Paralympics Committee president Zakir Ahmed were present at the event, among others.