The life of Shirin Akter, a woman from Kalagachhia Hazipur area under Bondor upazila in Narayanganj district, has changed after telecasting news on Rtv. After getting treatment at mental hospital she is doing well at the moment. The family hopes that rest of her life will be beautiful if she gets regular treatment and assistance. Shirin Akter was mentally challenged for more than two decades. She hardly could get her food and treatment was far from her desire. She was passing her days as a burden of her brother’s family staying at a room made with polythene being tied with shackle. While working with the special need people the matter came to the notice of Rtv Creative Director Syeda Munira Islam. She took the initiatives to change the life of Shirin with cooperation from the government and private levels. As a result, Shirin is currently living in a new house. Zahura Begum, sister in law of Shirin, told Rtv news, all including Munira apa, Shukla apa have extended cooperation. If they continue their cooperation then it will be good for us and we will be able to provide treatment for Shirin. Shirin’s younger brother Elin said, after their cooperation my sister is doing well at the moment. On October 18 Rtv team went to Shirin’s house at Bondor to inquire about her. At that time they became very pleased after seeing the mental and physical development of Shirin. Rtv Creative Director Syeda Munira Islam said, Shirin is doing very well at the moment following our cooperation, the current government is very friendly with the people with special need. The government took its stance beside this kind of people. People like Shirin will get cooperation from the government. From childhood Shirin was agile in nature. She had eagerness in her lessons along with the household affairs. She also passed the test examination for SSC. But in an unknown disease her aspirations and agility stopped gradually. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Wahida Zafar Sarkar Shukla assured Shirin to stand beside. She said, we will take initiative to erect a house for Shirin under the project introduced by the Prime Minister. We are taking care of her. Shirin has to count her time for passing the days soundly when her similar aged companions are busy with their household affairs. The family hopes that Shirin’s coming days will pass through in a better way after getting cooperation from all. AH

The cabinet has finally approved the draft of Mental Health Act-2018 keeping provision of punishment for negligence in treatment, assets listing and management for mentally ill person. According to the draft law, up to five lakh taka fines or three years rigorous imprisonment or both will be given to the guardian or manager if there is any type of negligence found in treatment or listing down and managing assets of mentally ill person. The draft act was approved in the cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital on Monday. Later Cabinet Division Secretary (Coordination and Reformation) NM Ziaul Alam in a press briefing at the secretariat briefed about the decisions taken in the meeting. The Cabinet Division Secretary said, according to the draft act, if any professional appointed in mental health service would issue fake certificate then he would also have to receive punishment. The involved has to get up to three lakh taka fines or one year imprisonment or both punishments. If anybody violates the provision of the act, help to violate or instigate then he or she would be given one lakh taka fines or six months imprisonment or both. AH