State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit on Saturday said that the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act will be amended through consultations with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.
Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue titled “Towards an Inclusive Bangladesh: Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Way Forward” at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka, Muhit said the issue of disability rights is no longer confined to the Ministry of Social Welfare under the current government's election manifesto.
He said the government has undertaken several initiatives over the past four months to promote the development of persons with disabilities and safeguard their rights.
“Building an inclusive Bangladesh for persons with disabilities is part of the government's political agenda,” Muhit said, adding that both government and non-government stakeholders must work together to implement the commitments outlined in the election manifesto.
He noted that Bangladesh has made progress in advancing disability rights in several areas and said the government is working to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the programmes of all ministries. Measures are also being taken to create suitable working environments for persons with disabilities who are able to work.
Referring to the recently formed Steering Committee on the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities, headed by the prime minister, Muhit said he serves as its alternate chair. He added that a separate committee comprising secretaries of relevant ministries has been established to implement the steering committee’s decisions.
The dialogue was chaired by Shashwati Biplob, associate director of BRAC's Gender Justice and Diversity and Legal Protection and Social Empowerment Programme.
In her remarks, Shashwati Biplob said there is still a long way to go in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.
“Having a law is not enough; effective implementation is equally important,” she said, adding that the government’s election manifesto and recent initiatives reflect its commitment to advancing disability rights.
The keynote paper, presented by Jahidul Kabir, lead of the Disability Inclusion Unit under BRAC’s Gender Justice and Diversity Programme, highlighted gaps in the implementation of disability-related policies and legislation.
According to the paper, Bangladesh lacks reliable and widely accepted data on persons with disabilities. Although the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act was enacted in 2013, its implementation has remained inadequate.
The paper noted that while the government’s approved action plan assigns responsibilities to 35 ministries and divisions, progress has been limited. It attributed the shortfalls to insufficient budget allocations and weak accountability mechanisms, which have hindered the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream development.
Among those attending the event were Orinjoy Dhar, senior director of BRAC’s Microfinance and Technology Programme, and Salma Mahbub, general secretary of B-SCAN. Representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities from across the country, students with disabilities and development practitioners also participated in the discussion.
The welcome address was delivered by Masuma Billah, head of BRAC’s Gender Justice and Diversity Programme.
Speakers at the dialogue said persons with disabilities continue to face attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers across society. They stressed that the experiences and perspectives of persons with disabilities must be central to policymaking and implementation efforts to build a truly inclusive Bangladesh.
They also called for the establishment of an independent directorate to coordinate disability-related activities across ministries and divisions. In addition, they urged the government to amend the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, ensure its effective implementation and strengthen accountability among those responsible for enforcing the law.