Turkish agency provides aid to disabled students in Bangladesh

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Turkey's state-run aid agency Thursday provided education equipment to disabled students of a remote Bangladeshi area.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s (TIKA) country coordinator Ismail Gundogdu handed over 300 pieces of equipment to disabled students at Sripur in the central district of Gazipur, located 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north of the capital Dhaka.

Local lawmaker Mohammad Iqbal Hossain Sabuj and several other officials also attended the ceremony.

The items include 50 wheelchairs, 40 hearing aids, 50 walking aid frames, 25 sunglasses for the blind, 100 school bags, 50 toilet chairs, and two tricycles.

During the distribution ceremony, Turan said Turkey has had a long-term and trusted friendship with Bangladesh for many decades.

Referring to the improving defense cooperation between the two nations, Turan added both countries are progressing very well and have become a role model of development for the Muslim countries as well as other nations across the world.

Addressing the students, Turan said such cooperation would continue. "We hope these equipment will help students lead a better and comfortable life and continue their study more smoothly.”

Meanwhile, Sabuj thanked Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for tremendous support for Bangladesh, especially in addressing the Rohingya crisis.

Highlighting that TIKA has been serving in Bangladesh since 2014, Gundogdu added: “We are at the final stage of completing a community clinic in Gazipur and are working on 10 more community clinics across Bangladesh.”