Dear Colleagues, Sharing an off-putting news with you: We got to know from reliable sources that the meeting of Committee of Secretaries of Govt. of Bangladesh this morning has formally refused the proposed Amendment of "Rules of Business" of different Ministries of Government of Bangladesh, which was one of the long-awaited and fundamental demands of disability movement in Bangladesh. The meeting rather suggested the Ministry of Social Welfare to perpetuate its age-old practice of doing welfare for the persons with disabilities, the largest minority group of the country. Those who are not aware of the matter: According to the present Rules of Business (job description of Ministries), Ministry of Social Welfare is solely responsible for anything related to the persons with disabilities, e.g., education, health, training, employment, the issues of women, children with disabilities...! The meeting has also discouraged the initiatives of changing the name of Ministry of Social Welfare and formulation of a new rights-based law for persons with disabilities in light of UNCRPD ignoring the Chief Advisor's specific recommendations and strong demand by the disability rights movement in this respect. The decision simply disregards the people's aspirations and their right to development and fails to uphold Bangladesh's own commitment to the international community! How this country is going to implement the CRPD, which has ratified the Convention along with its Optional Protocol? NFOWD, the network of organisations working on the issues of disability has been advocating for more than a decade for this change. We are disappointed, embarrassed and therefore strongly protest this decision and appeal to all our friends, colleagues, supporters and development partners to raise your voice against this backward-looking step of the government, from wherever you are! Yes to Convention! Yes to Human Rights! Yes to change! In solidarity! mahbub Director/LCDDB