Md Saidul Huq :
A country’s path to real progress isn’t defined by skylines, highways, or GDP curves.
It’s defined by whether every citizen, including persons with disabilities, can walk through life with dignity, support, and opportunity.
On the 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 27th National Day on Disabilities, we’re reminded that inclusion isn’t a favour—it’s a measure of our humanity.
This year’s UN theme, Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress, captures a truth we often overlook.
National development loses meaning when it leaves out millions of people who have the talent, creativity, and determination to contribute but are held back by systemic barriers.
When persons with disabilities thrive, society moves forward. When they’re excluded, progress becomes uneven, fragile, and unjust.
Over the past years, the government has rolled out programs to bring persons with disabilities into the mainstream—initiatives that would have been unimaginable a generation ago.
Allowances based on the nature of disability now reach millions. Education stipends help children stay in school.
Disability support and service centres at district level offer guidance and assistance. Schools are building ramps to improve mobility for students with physical disabilities.
Braille books are being supplied, assistive and digital technologies introduced, and skill development training scaled up. Wheelchairs, hearing aids, white canes, and other essential devices are being distributed across the country.
It shows that Bangladesh understands disability inclusion is not a separate narrative—it’s part of the national development story. But the work doesn’t stop here. Government efforts alone cannot fill every gap.
Private institutions, NGOs, community-based organisations, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are playing a critical role in shaping a more inclusive future. Their work is often more flexible, more innovative, and closer to the lived realities of people with disabilities.
At Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation (BERDO), we see this every day. Our residential school for blind children isn’t just a building; it’s a platform where children discover independence, skills, and confidence.
Free Braille education ensures that no child is denied learning because of visual limitations. BERDO Eye Hospital and its low-cost eye care services help thousands of families who would otherwise struggle to access treatment.
ICT and computer training programs give visually impaired youth a modern skill set, opening doors to employment and entrepreneurship.
But if we want real, lasting change, we need to shift from isolated initiatives to structural transformation. That starts with the full implementation of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013.
Without proper enforcement, persons with disabilities face unnecessary battles—accessing public services, entering educational institutions, securing employment, or even moving through public spaces.
We need accessible schools, universities, and workplaces as well as digital and assistive technologies to be as common as textbooks. We need public and private sectors to expand employment quotas and actually follow them.
We need affordable assistive devices. We need public services designed with disability-friendly environments in mind. These aren’t extras—they’re the baseline for a fair society.
We need bold reforms that make persons with disabilities visible in decision-making spaces.
First, Bangladesh should reserve dedicated seats in Parliament for persons with disabilities. Representation shapes policy. When those who understand disability firsthand sit in the highest legislative body, the national agenda becomes sharper, fairer, and more grounded.
Second, political parties must prioritise persons with disabilities in their nomination processes. Leadership shouldn’t be limited to those without physical challenges. Skill, competence, and commitment must come first, and many capable persons with disabilities have long been overlooked.
Third, it’s time to establish a separate Ministry for Disability Development and Empowerment. Right now, support is scattered across multiple departments. A united platform—responsible for policy, budgets, and implementation—would make services more efficient and more impactful.
Fourth, Bangladesh should appoint a Minister or State Minister from among competent and experienced persons with disabilities. Lived experience brings policy insight that no report or meeting can replicate.
Fifth, the government should create the post of Disability Development Affairs Secretary. Someone must be responsible for ensuring rights, education, employment, accessibility, and empowerment. Without clear accountability, progress becomes slow and fragmented.
Sixth, we need a strong National Commission dedicated to disability rights. It must monitor and enforce the Disabilities Act 2013, and ensure institutions stay compliant instead of treating accessibility as optional.
Seventh, accessibility must be compulsory across ministries, agencies, and relevant departments. Accessibility to buildings, websites, public transport, and government services is not a favour—it’s a right.
Eighth, persons with disabilities must be included in national and local decision-making committees. Competent individuals exist in every district, every community. They must be heard.
Ninth, every ministry should establish a focal wing dedicated to disability issues. These units should handle allowances, services, device distribution, and employment opportunities quickly and without bureaucratic hurdles.
Tenth, disability allowances must be raised to 4,000 taka.
Too many families are trying to stretch a small sum across food, transport, medical needs, and education. A realistic allowance reflects respect for human dignity.
Finally, budgetary allocation for disability rights must increase. You can’t implement ambitious policies without the funding to back them up.
The capacity, creativity, and resilience of persons with disabilities are one of our country’s greatest untapped strengths. They are innovators as well as leaders and change-makers. When society gives them the tools and space to succeed, everyone benefits.
Bangladesh’s future depends on inclusion. If government, private sectors, NGOs, and communities push forward together, we can build a society that’s not only disability-inclusive but genuinely humanist, participatory, and fair. A society where equality isn’t celebrated once a year—it shapes the way we educate, employ, govern, and care for each other.
(The author is Executive Director, Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation)
