Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid has expressed the opinion that the physically challenged persons should be included in the government's social safety programme.

Laws relating to physically challenged people are insufficient and for this reason social approaches toward them should be changed, he observed.

He made the observation while addressing a seminar as the chief guest organised by the Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) titled "UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" in the city Thursday, reports BSS.

Founder and Executive Director of BPKS Abdus Sattar Dulal presided over the seminar.

The minister said this segment of population should be provided with services as golden citizens of the country. "The bright side of the physically challenged people should be highlighted, not their gloomy parts," he added.

Besides, the speakers in their addresses stressed the need for detailed data about physically challenged persons. UN convention in this connection should also be discussed in the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), they observed.

Representatives from 30 ministries, non-government organisations (NGOs), different leading development organisations, European Commission, Australian High Commission, political parties, physically challenged people's organisations, civil society, international donor agencies and print and electronic media were present at the seminar.

Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Justin Lee, President of Bangladesh Economic Association Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad and First Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Commission Jean-Jacques Lauture addressed the seminar as special guests.