Writ seeks mandatory disability access ramps

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking directives for the enactment of legislation mandating the installation of ramps in all government and private establishments to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Fahmida Akhtar filed the petition on Monday in the public interest, reports media.

Secretaries of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, and the Local Government Division, among others, have been named as respondents in the writ.

In the petition, the petitioner called for the formulation and strict enforcement of a law requiring the installation of ramps in all public and private buildings, aiming to guarantee equal access for persons with disabilities in line with their constitutional and human rights.

The writ also urged the authorities to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013.

A news report titled “In Dhaka, mobility for persons with disabilities still often remains inaccessible” has been submitted as supporting documentation with the petition.