IOM donates coaster bus to children with disabilities in Cox’s Bazar

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency has donated a 30-seater coaster bus to Cox's Bazar Arunodoy School, a specialized school for children with disabilities, as part of stepped-up efforts to support the host community.

The handover event was held at new facilities on February 8, 2020 (Saturday) where several hundred participants including students with disabilities, teachers and community members attended, said a press release here on Sunday.

Honourable State Minister Farhad Hossain of Public Administration Ministry was addressed as chief guest at the bus handover event while Md. Kamal Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, chaired the event. Shaikh Yusuf Harun, secretary of Public Administration Ministry, Manuel Pereira, deputy chief of mission of IOM, and BM Masiur Rahman, national liaison officer of IOM, were present among others.

Farhad Hossain, state minister of Public Administration Ministry said: "The Bangladeshi Government is grateful to IOM for their continuous support for persons with disabilities in Cox's Bazar city and we would be glad if they can also extend this kind of aid in other districts of Bangladesh." 

The government figures state that Cox's Bazar has 28,000 persons with disabilities and the Arunodoy School aims to help students enter the mainstream education system. Arunodoy is the first institution of its kind in Cox's Bazar and has opened its doors to 700 students; 500 special needs children and 200 street children. 

Manuel Pereira, Deputy Chief of Mission of IOM, said: "IOM sees this initiative as a landmark and we hope with it more children will have the opportunity to access education and adequate specialized care."

Earlier, the UN Migration Agency donated 50 wheelchairs to Arunodoy School for children with special needs. These IOM efforts are parts of stepped-up support for the Bangladeshi host community and for persons with disabilities.