CRP started services in two cement store houses in the grounds of a Dhaka hospital. Originally known as The Rehabilitation Centre for Paralysed Patients, CRP moved two further times in Dhaka City before building its current head office premises in Savar.History of CRP

The Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, commonly known as CRP, was founded in 1979 by a small group of Bangladeshis and a British physiotherapist, Valerie Taylor. Miss Taylor came to the Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) in 1969 as a volunteer physiotherapist, and was appalled at the lack of facilities for the disabled and the often poor diagnosis by local doctors. The situation for the disabled was worsened in the aftermath of the 1971 Independence War, after which Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan. After many years of disappointments and setbacks, CRP was opened in 1979. The premises were two cement storerooms in the grounds of a Dhaka hospital. The capacity soon grew from 4 patients to about 50.

CRP moved premises twice more before 1990 when land was purchased in Savar and CRP's current headquarters were developed. From the original green-field site an extensive range of facilities has been developed to include world class treatment for spinal injuries, ground-breaking therapy services, an academic institute which is pioneering the teaching of new professions, workshops, an inclusive school and recreational facilities.

Valerie Taylor helped to establish CRP and has been instrumental in its development. In the picture above, Valerie can be seen assisting a patient at CRP's first premises. In addition to developing the impressive facilities in Savar CRP has developed three further sub-centres, each with a different focus, in other areas of Bangladesh. The most recent of these is the exciting new centre in the Mirpur area of Dhaka. A further service location is planned in Manikgang, 30km from CRP-Savar.

Valerie Taylor O.B.E.
Valerie Taylor, from Buckinghamshire, England, first came to Bangladesh with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in 1969 to work as a physiotherapist in Chandragona Hospital, near Chittagong. At that time Bangladesh was still known as East Pakistan, as a result of the partition of India after British rule ended in 1947.

Her stay was interrupted by the 1971 War of Independence, after which Bangladesh became an independent state, no longer governed from Pakistan. This war was particularly vicious and cost the lives of approximately 3 million Bangladeshis. During the war Valerie was evacuated, but returned to Bangladesh in September 1971, two months before the war ended.

She was very aware of the need for rehabilitation services for the disabled. This problem had become even more acute in the aftermath of the War of Independence.

In 1973 Valerie returned to England to attempt to raise funds to establish a rehabilitation centre for disabled. She stayed in England for two years before returning in 1975. It took another four years before CRP was able to admit it's first patients in 1979. During this time, Valerie worked in the Shaheed Surawady Hospital in Dhaka and it was in the grounds of this hospital that CRP had it's first premises, two cement storerooms which were used to treat patients.

Through all the various moves from one premises to another, Valerie has continued to work tirelessly for the benefit of CRP. Even today the light in her office can be seen burning till late in the evening.Valerie Taylor with Poppy (left) and Joyti (right).

Valerie is also legal guardian to two disabled girls, Joyti and Poppy.

Despite officially taking a backseat role at CRP some years ago, Valerie remains the driving force behind the running and development of CRP.

In 1998 Valerie was awarded Bangladeshi citizenship by the then Prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.