Hasina’s daughter elected UN prize jury chairperson

Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been elected chairperson of the International Jury Board of Unesco-Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jabar al-Sabah prize for digital empowerment of persons with disabilities.According to a statement, issued by Bangladesh ambassador to France and permanent representative to Unesco Shahidul Islam, the election was held at the jury board’s meeting in Paris on Wednesday where Saima was elected as the head of the board for the next two years.Saima is the current chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh and a member of World Health Organization’s (WHO) advisory panel of mental health.Unesco-Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jabar al-Sabah prize is given to individuals or organisations for their outstanding contribution in implementing digital solutions to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities, the statement said.The four members of the jury board are special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities of United Nations Human Rights Council Costa Rican Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Lebanese journalist May Chidiac, professor of Johannes Kepler University of Austria Klaus Miesenberger and member of the Committee of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Martin Babu Mwesigwa.The prize, introduced with the financial support of Kuwait, consists of two awards — one for an individual and one for an organisation — of  $20,000 each.Shahidul said in the statement that members of the jury board, which includes personalities renowned for their contributions towards improving the lives of persons with disabilities, will select the winners of the prize after scrutiny of over 100 applications received by Unesco from governments, individuals, and non-governmental organisations.On the sidelines of the International Jury meeting, Putul also held a brief meeting with Getachew Engida, deputy director general of Unesco, the statement said.They discussed Bangladesh-Unesco collaboration to improve the life of persons with disabilities, it added.