Green Disabled Foundation (GDF)
GDF-DCAF Dristi Protibondhi Biddaloy (School for the Visually Impaired)
GDF-DCAF Dristi Protibondhi Biddaloy (School for the Visually Impaired)
Founded in 1997 by the late Rajab Ali Khan in the holy land of Sylhet, the Green Disabled Foundation (GDF) is a non-profit social organization that has spent nearly 28 years tirelessly improving the education, services, and quality of life for persons with disabilities. GDF’s mission is to provide world-class education where none existed before, most notably through the GDF-DCAF School for the Visually Impaired.
Established in 2006, this school is a regional pioneer as the first and only institution in the Sylhet Division to establish an educational system for visually impaired students. The school, which is currently operated through a partnership between GDF and the Disabled Community Advancement Foundation (DCAF), provides both residential and non-residential facilities for visually impaired boys and girls. It supports a comprehensive academic journey that spans from Primary (Class 1) and Secondary levels all the way to Higher Secondary and Bachelor (Degree Pass) degrees.
By utilizing specialized Braille and audio methods, the school has achieved significant success, with many students passing the Primary Completion Exam (PSC) as well as Junior Secondary (JSC), Secondary (SSC), and Higher Secondary (HSC) exams with satisfactory results. Beyond standard academics, students receive religious education, orientation and mobility (walking) training, daily living skills, and sports training, while also becoming award-winning cultural performers frequently featured on Bangladesh Betar (Sylhet) and at various national events.
GDF’s commitment to digital inclusion and vocational self-reliance is equally robust. The ICT and Computer Training Center provides free practical computer training to children and adults with physical, intellectual, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, utilizing specialized "Talking Software" to help visually impaired trainees gain digital independence. For economic empowerment, the Bookbinding Training & Employment Center has, since 2000, trained numerous adults with various disabilities who produce an average of 300,000 notebooks per month for the BRAC Education Program, providing them with a regular income to support their families. Additionally, the "Swapno" (Dream) Candle Project, launched in 2009 and managed entirely by the Disabled Citizens' Council, empowers members through the production, packaging, and marketing of decorative candles for the open market.
GDF also acts as a social lighthouse through its Advocacy and Information Center, which provides free resources on disability laws, policies, and national/international documents to families, researchers, and journalists, while also assisting in the disability certification process. Historically, GDF even extended its reach to 300 underprivileged children between 2005 and 2007 by providing free non-formal education and essential materials like books and stationery.
The foundation's leadership and excellence have been recognized globally and nationally. GDF has been a leading member of the National Disability Forum since 1998, with its founder serving as President in 2012 and 2016. It maintains active memberships with CAMPE (Campaign for Popular Education), the "Amar Odhikar" Campaign, and the top-tier NGO federation, FNB. Over the years, GDF has hosted distinguished visitors who have praised its humanitarian impact, including British High Commissioner Dr. David C. Carter, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Julian Eptin, Pakistan High Commissioner Alamgir Babar, French Ambassador Andre Jek ob Kosti, and former State Ministers Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury MP and Enam Ahmed Chowdhury.
Today, GDF stands as a highly respected institution whose success stories continue to be celebrated in national and international print and electronic media.
Since 1997, the Green Disabled Foundation (GDF) has been working tirelessly for the welfare of the underprivileged and disabled populations of our country, beginning its journey with seven dedicated members. We achieved a major milestone in 2006 with the establishment of the GDF-DCAF School for the Visually Impaired. Through this institution, we provide comprehensive support- including free general education, religious studies, and orientation and mobility training- under both residential and nonresidential management.
Our mission is to ensure that every child with a disability can live in society with dignity and pride. Looking toward the future, we envision the formal nationalization of this institution and aim to expand our educational and training initiatives further with the cooperation of the government.
I invite you all to join us in our efforts to build a compassionate society- a world where no disability serves as a barrier to moving forward.
Rajab Ali Khan Najeeb was a preeminent figure in the disability rights movement of Bangladesh. A man of extraordinary willpower, he transformed the challenges of total visual impairment into a lifelong mission of humanitarian service. Through his leadership, he transitioned the national perspective on disability from one of "pity and charity" to one of "rights and dignity."
I. Early Life and Educational Foundations
Born on October 15, 1972, in the Kazi Elias neighborhood of Zindabazar, Sylhet, Mr.
Najeeb was the son
of Late Daulat Khan, an employee of BADC, and Jubeda Khatun.
Clinical History: Diagnosed with childhood glaucoma, he lost vision in his left eye in 1979 and became completely blind by 1980.
Academic Excellence: Undeterred by the loss of sight, he enrolled in the Dhaka Government Blind School in 1982 to learn the Braille system. He completed his SSC at Moulvibazar Government High School, his HSC at Sylhet Government College, and his Graduation at Madan Mohan College, successfully competing alongside sighted peers during an era of minimal accessibility.
II. Professional Career and Institutional Leadership
His advocacy began in 1989 while still in high school. Over three decades, he held
several high-level
leadership positions:
National Disability Forum (NFOWD): Elected National President in April 2012, leading the organization through its most transformative period.
BNSB Sylhet: Served as a National Executive Member for 12 years (1995-2006), focusing on blindness prevention and rehabilitation.
Jalalabad Foundation: As Joint Secretary General, he personally oversaw eye examinations for 7,000 students across 50 schools.
Government Appointments: He served as a trustee for the Maitri Shilpa Center and was a key member of numerous committees, including the National Steering Committee on Disability Identification.
III. The Legacy of Green Disabled Foundation (GDF) In 1997, Mr. Najeeb founded GDF in Sylhet to provide specialized services for the marginalized. His institutional contributions include:
Inclusive Education: Established the GDF-DCAF School for the Visually Impaired in 2006. It remains the only regional facility providing specialized residential education for visually impaired boys and girls, with a unique emphasis on blind girls' education. The institution is currently operated through a strategic partnership between GDF and DCAF.
Economic Empowerment: Established a Vocational Training and Bookbinding Center that achieved a monthly production of 300,000 notebooks for the BRAC Education Program.
Technological Advancement: Launched a computer training center using "Talking Software" for the visually impaired.
Support Infrastructure: Distributed over 1,300 units of assistive technology, including wheelchairs and white canes, and established a Braille and Audio Library.
IV. Legislative Achievements and Policy Impact
Mr. Najeeb’s most enduring legacy is his role in shaping the legal framework of
Bangladesh. He was a
primary advocate for:
The Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act, 2013: A landmark law shifting the lens to a rights-based approach.
The Neuro-Developmental Disabled Protection Trust Act, 2013: Focused on the specific needs of individuals with autism and NDDs.
Other Historic Firsts:
Secured the first-ever dedicated budget for disabled citizens within the Sylhet City
Corporation.
Initiated the reservation of 10% of the Sylhet District Education Fund for students
with disabilities.
Spearheaded the installation of ramps and disability-friendly desks at the
Bangladesh Bank, Sylhet branch.
V. Awards, Honors, and Recognition
Sada Moner Manush (2008): Awarded by the Sylhet District
Administration; he was the first person with
a disability to receive this honor.
National Award (2016): Bestowed by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh as a "Successful Person with Disability."
Sylhet Bibek Award (2012): Honored for his outstanding social contribution.
Literary Tribute: His biography, "Meghe Dhaka Tara" (The Star Covered by Clouds), was published by FIVDB as an inspirational curriculum for students.
VI. Final Years and Global Footprint Late Rajab Ali Khan Najeeb was a man of immense intellect, holding memberships in international libraries in the USA, Canada, UK, France, and Germany. He passed away on December 3, 2017-the International Day of Persons with Disabilities- serving his cause until the very end.
In recognition of his work, GDF was honored as a "Successful Organization" by the Government of Bangladesh in 2017. He remains an immortal figure in the history of humanitarian service, proving that a life dedicated to others can overcome any physical limitation.
Md Bayjid Khan is a prominent organizer, dedicated social activist, and a leading figure in the disability rights movement of Bangladesh. For decades, he has committed his life to the education, empowerment, legal rights, and social integration of persons with disabilities.
I. Personal Background & Family Legacy
Born in 1984 in the Kazi Elias area of Zindabazar, Sylhet, Md. Bayjid Khan is the
son of the late Daulat
Khan, a government official, and the late Jubeda Khatun.
A story of immense resilience defines his family; both Md. Bayjid Khan and his elder
brother, the legendary
activist Late Rajab Ali Khan Najeeb, were born with visual impairments. Raised with
extraordinary care
and determination by their parents despite limited resources, he transformed his
personal challenges into a
life of dedicated service.
II. Professional Leadership & Current Mandates
Md Bayjid Khan currently spearheads several key institutions and represents the
disability sector in
governmental policy-making:
Governmental & Strategic Committees:
III. Career Evolution & Institutional Growth
Under the mentorship of his elder brother, Md Bayjid Khan entered social service as
a child (circa 1987-
88). Upon assuming the leadership of GDF in 2017, he revitalized the foundation's
mission with several
modern initiatives:
IV. Educational Excellence
Defying the systemic obstacles often faced by visually impaired students, Md. Bayjid
Khan successfully
completed his Graduation. His academic persistence serves as a powerful testament to
the fact that physical
limitations do not define intellectual capacity or potential.
V. Awards & Distinctions
His lifelong dedication to humanitarian service has earned him both national and
international acclaim:
VI. Philosophy of Life
Md. Bayjid Khan has dedicated his existence to ensuring that persons with
disabilities live with dignity and
equal rights. By conquering his own barriers, he has become a source of strength and
a "light of hope" for
thousands. His leadership continues to drive the mission of GDF, turning the vision
of a truly inclusive
society into a reality