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Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023

Wheelchair service for people with special needs at book


Published : 05 Feb 2023 10:26 PM

Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023, the biggest festival of Bengali literature lovers is going on. Irrespective of young and old, people are coming and visiting the fair, choosing and buying the books of their favorite subjects and authors. 

But there are some problems for people with special needs. They can't move in the fair on their own like other people. They need someone's help. Considering their special needs, the volunteer organization 'Swiss Bangladesh Foundation' has been providing free wheelchair services for the past 9 years.

On Sunday (February 5) this correspondent met the volunteers of the organization at the entrance of the book fair who found them busy providing services as usual. They said that for the past 9 years, they have been providing wheelchair services to physically challenged visitors and those who have difficulty in walking. 

They also said that, "People who cannot walk don't need to worry.If they can somehow reach the gate of the fair,we bring the physically challenged persons to the fair, and as long as they want to stay there we accompany them."  

There will be a total of 20 wheelchairs at two gates of the fair, TSC and Doyle Square. The wheelchairs have been arranged by Bangla Academy and volunteers from Switch Bangladesh Foundation, an organization of students from Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET), are providing volunteer service.

The volunteers said that they are getting joy and peace of mind by volunteering. They said that they are involved in this service for their own peace of mind and self-satisfaction. One of the volunteers said, “I have been providing my services to people with special needs at the fair for the past 9 years. There is joy and self-satisfaction for being able to show them around the fair. This is our way of service. There is no other benefit”.

The organisation has been doing various social development work since 2011 by combining the students of different universities including those from Dhaka University, BUET and Dhaka Medical College. Their services also include imparting education to street children, wheelchair service at book fair, awareness programs on cleanliness and relief distribution during any kind of natural disaster. 

A mobile banking company is supporting their wheelchair service programme at the book fair.