Disability rights advocates are calling on the government to translate Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s pre-election commitments on disability inclusion into concrete policies, saying the time has come to move from promises to implementation.
In a virtual dialogue with persons with disabilities on December 14, 2024, Tarique Rahman pledged to build an inclusive Bangladesh where people with disabilities would be recognised not as recipients of charity but as equal citizens and partners in development. With the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) now leading the government, rights groups say attention must shift toward structural reforms and measurable outcomes.
Call for stronger institutional coordination
One key proposal raised during the dialogue was the creation of a stronger institutional mechanism — possibly a dedicated directorate — to coordinate disability-related programs currently spread across several ministries.
Advocates say fragmented responsibilities have long weakened policy implementation.
Jahangir Alam, senior coordinator at the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), said a unified structure could improve coordination.
“Disability programs are scattered across multiple ministries. A strong and accountable directorate could unify policy formulation, budgeting, implementation and monitoring,” he said.
He added that any such institution must ensure representation of persons with disabilities and include an independent monitoring system in line with Bangladesh’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Allowance reform and transparency
Increasing the disability allowance and ensuring transparency in its distribution is another key demand raised by advocates.
Advocate Mosharraf Hossain Majumder, president of the Visual Impaired People Society and a senior lawyer at the Supreme Court, said the allowance should be treated as a matter of rights.
“The allowance must reflect rising living costs. At the same time, transparency in selecting beneficiaries is essential so that genuine recipients are not excluded,” he said.
He suggested establishing a digital database, introducing social audit mechanisms and creating an accessible complaint redress system to prevent bias or political influence at the local level.
Employment opportunities remain limited
Employment remains one of the most pressing concerns for educated persons with disabilities.
During the December meeting, Tarique Rahman pledged to expand skills development, ICT training and employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
However, Md Ali Hossain, convener of the Job-Seeking Disabled Graduates’ Council, said training programmes alone would not resolve the problem.
“Each year many students with disabilities graduate from universities, but meaningful employment opportunities remain scarce. Training must be linked to real market demand, and quotas must translate into actual recruitment,” he said.
He proposed creating a national database of qualified graduates with disabilities to facilitate recruitment and called for workplace accommodations to ensure sustainable employment.
Demand for participation in policymaking
Advocates also emphasised the importance of including persons with disabilities in policymaking.
Nasima Akter, chairperson of the Equal Bangladesh Campaign, said participation must go beyond symbolic representation.
“Policies are often made about us without our involvement. Representation must be meaningful so that our voices shape decisions,” she said.
She also highlighted the need to ensure representation of women with disabilities in decision-making bodies from local government institutions to national advisory committees.
Expectations from the new government
Advocates say the coming months will be crucial for demonstrating the government’s commitment to inclusive governance.
They have called for clear budget allocations for disability programs, a time-bound implementation roadmap, nationwide accessibility assessments and transparent monitoring systems.
While the December pledges have raised expectations among the disability community, activists say the real test will be whether those commitments translate into policies that strengthen rights, dignity and equal citizenship for persons with disabilities.