Child Disability Network - Introduction
Dignitaries at the Inauguration Ceremony in Dhaka
CSF developed the Network in 2003 and has been maintaining it informally. It was earlier facilitated under Childhood Blindness Project, Bangladesh (CBPB). International Center for Eye Health, London (ICEH) has consented to support the formalization of the Network as part of Bangladesh Childhood Blindness Campaign (BCBC). ICEH is the main development partner of CSN. It will provide program designing, technical, implementation and monitoring and goodwill support to CSN. Through BCBC project, ICEH will provide some financial support for maintaining the network.
The national launching
The national launching was on August 24, 2006 at BRAC Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka. Approximately 130 persons representing the following organizations participated in the ceremony.
- Government of Bangladesh
- International NGOs
- International Donor organizations
- Civil society members
- National Forums for Disabled
- Eye care service providers
- NGOs working for visually disabled
- Journalists and Media organizations
- Members of CSF Executive Committee
- Visually impaired persons
- Domestic donor organizations and persons
Dr. M.A. Muhit answering on BCBC project during the presentation
Dr. M.A. Muhit made elaborate presentation on the project to the audience and answered questions from the audience and media. Prof. MA Matin, Member of Parliament and Vice-Chairman of Bangladesh National Council for the Blind (BNCB) launched the project. Prof. A.H. Syedur Rahman, President of CSF and Mr. Abu Issa Mohammad Mainuddin, General secretary of CSF also spoke on this occasion and sought everybody’s help for successful implementation of the project. The ceremony concluded with a cultural event by visually impaired children.
CSN Discussion session
On the same day, a 4.5-hour Discussion session was held with member organizations of the Child Disability Network (CDN). Earlier CSF sent each of them the draft Terms of Reference (TOR), draft Activity Plan and the program schedule and followed up with telephone and personal communication to attend the session. The program agenda was:
- Key Note Presentation on CSN by Dr. M. A. Muhit on CSN
- Speeches by two CSN members
- Discussion and Approval of TOR
- Formation of CSN Working Group
- Discussion on Activity Plan
- Wrap-up talks
- Closing with Thanks
A total 27 Organizations participated in the session.
