DHAKA, May 18, 2023 (BSS) - The Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) was celebrated in the country today like elsewhere in the world.
 
The Aspire to Innovate-a2i Programme and the Friendship, a social purpose organization, celebrated the day through different programmes in the city, said a press release. 

Marking the day, the Aspire to Innovate-a2i Programme and the Friendship organized a workshop while Secretary of the ICT Division Md. Shamsul Arefin was present at the programme as the chief guest. 

Presided over by a2i Project Director (Additional Secretary) Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Joint Project Director of a2i Md. Shaiful Islam and Deputy Director of Friendship Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman were present at the event as special guests. 

Speaking on the occasion, Md Shamsul Arefin highlighted the achievements towards building the Smart Bangladesh and emphasized the need for an inclusive digital government service system. 

He assured of all-out cooperation in implementing the National Web and e-Services Accessibility Guidelines and making websites and digital services accessible for all including persons with disability.

Programme Specialist Innovation of a2i Manik Mahmud delivered welcome address in the function and briefed about the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Informative sessions and practical demonstrations were held at the event. 

National Consultant accessibility at a2i Vashkar Bhattacharjee showcased accessibility websites and digital services in Bangladesh and highlighted the barriers that still exist. 

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is an awareness day focusing on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people alive today who live with disabilities or impairments. It is marked annually on the third Thursday of May.

GAAD serves as a platform to raise awareness and promote accessibility in the digital realm for over 16 million people with disabilities in Bangladesh.