Accessibility for people with disabilities and other passengers requiring assistance should be treated as a fundamental right rather than a privilege in Bangladesh’s railway services, speakers said at a workshop in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The remarks came at a workshop titled “Accessibility for All: Bangladesh Railway”, jointly organized by the Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh Railway and BRAC at a hotel in the capital.
The workshop reviewed accessibility at railway stations and proposed policy reforms, staff training and service standards to ensure safer, more seamless and comfortable travel for all passengers.
Speaking as chief guest, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid said railway travel would only be truly accessible when a person with a disability could independently complete the entire journey — from reaching the station and purchasing a ticket to accessing the platform, boarding the train, reaching their seat, using the toilet and safely reaching their destination.
He also stressed that people with disabilities should be involved at every stage of planning, design, implementation and evaluation.
Speaking as special guest, Bangladesh Railway Secretary Md Fahimul Islam said, “Our primary goal is to make railway services safe, comfortable and accessible for everyone.”
Despite various infrastructure-related and other limitations, he said, an integrated initiative had been undertaken under the new master plan to ensure seamless travel for elderly passengers and people with disabilities.
In his address as chair, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Afzal Hossain said Bangladesh Railway was placing greater emphasis on passenger-friendly services.
He said the railway authorities were committed to developing a universally accessible system for all passengers, including people with disabilities, despite infrastructural and technological limitations.
Ahmed Najmul Hussain, director of BRAC’s Road Safety Program, said BRAC works with marginalized communities, a significant proportion of whom are people with disabilities.
He said BRAC would continue working to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities by reviewing the recommendations and views shared by stakeholders at the workshop.
Shashwatee Biplob, associate director of BRAC’s Social Empowerment and Legal Protection and Gender Justice and Diversity Program, said Bangladesh has numerous laws and policies, most of which are not implemented.
“Even partial implementation of these laws and policies would help resolve many of the challenges we face,” she said.
Nafiul Hasan, associate director of BRAC’s Advocacy for Social Change Program, said, “Accessibility is not a privilege or favor, but a right.”
He said accessibility assessments had already been conducted at four railway stations across the country, identifying several areas requiring attention.
He stressed the need for a coordinated initiative to ensure barrier-free and accessible railway services.
Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Bangladesh Railway additional director general (Operations), delivered the welcome remarks.
“We are working to build a railway system that is friendly and accessible to people with disabilities. Several initiatives have already been undertaken. The needs of people with disabilities are being taken into consideration in the construction of new railway stations and the procurement of new coaches,” he said.
He also said the issue would receive due importance in the revision of the master plan.
Participants at the workshop said accessibility should not be treated as an additional facility but established as one of the fundamental standards of railway services.
They noted that people with visual, hearing, physical and intellectual disabilities have different needs, which should be taken into account when planning railway stations, platforms, coaches, ticket counters, information systems and other services.
Participants also called for accessibility to be incorporated from the outset in the design and construction of new railway infrastructure rather than being added later.
Bangladesh Railway Chief Planning Officer Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Director at the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) Anika Rahman Lipy, and BRAC’s Consultant on Disability and Development Dr Nafeesur Rahman presented findings and data from assessments on accessibility in railway services.
Md Rupam Anwar, additional secretary to the Ministry of Railways, delivered the closing remarks.
Representatives of people with disabilities and relevant organizations also participated in the workshop and shared their views.
Government officials, Bangladesh Railway officials, people with disabilities and organizations representing them, national and international development partners, development professionals, researchers, engineers, civil society representatives and relevant experts attended the workshop.