Even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh has not properly implemented systems and laws to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Experts believe that the lack of coordination among government departments is one of the main reasons for this. This lack of coordination has also affected research activities on persons with disabilities.
Speakers at a recent roundtable discussion suggested amending the law, allocating budgets for persons with disabilities in relevant ministries, constructing disability-friendly buildings and toilets, training skilled volunteers for persons with disabilities in disaster-prone areas, and creating disability-friendly families.
The roundtable discussion was titled “Climate Change and WASH: Why Inclusive Solutions Are Important for People with Disabilities,” organized by World Vision Bangladesh in collaboration with the Daily Samakal on Monday.
The project is named “Inclusive Pathways to Ensuring Climate-Resilient WASH in Bangladesh.”
The following panelists took part in the roundtable: Chandan Gomes, Senior Director of Operations at World Vision Bangladesh, Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Director of Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS), Dr Md Nuhu Amin, Associate Scientist at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Saqib Huq, Managing Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Md Shafiqul Islam, Asia Regional Director at ADD International, Salma Mahbub, General Secretary of Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-Scan), Anika Rahman Lipy, Assistant Director at the Center for Disabilities in Development (CDD), Paritosh Chandra Sarker, National Coordinator for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) at World Vision Bangladesh, and Rabeya Baby, Staff Reporter at the Daily Ittefaq.
The event was chaired by Abu Sayeed Khan, Adviser Editor of Samakal, and conducted by Goutam Mondal, Online In-Charge of Samakal.
Key research findings
According to the Bangladesh Disability Survey (BDS) 2019, 9.5% of the total population of Bangladesh lives with various types of disabilities. Due to the lack of proper research, people with disabilities in Bangladesh are being deprived of their rights. As a result, there is no plan and, subsequently, no implementation.
At the outset, Dr Jane Wilbur, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), presented key findings of the research jointly conducted by LSHTM, icddr,b and World Vision Bangladesh.
The study showed that extreme weather in Bangladesh has severely disrupted WASH services, disproportionately affecting people with disabilities. Damage to 30% of water points and 13% of latrines left nearly half of people with disabilities unable to access alternatives.
Many altered their routines to reduce toilet use due to safety, privacy, and physical challenges. Incontinence and mobility issues further exacerbated their vulnerability.
Hygiene was also compromised, as restricted access to tube wells forced people to wash in polluted floodwater, worsening health risks. Limited disaster relief, inaccessible shelters, and a lack of communal preparedness compounded these issues. Comprehensive, climate-resilient disability services and disaster relief are essential for safety, dignity, and health.
Principles for climate-resilient WASH
The study suggested six principles for climate-resilient, disability-inclusive WASH:
- Climate-resilient WASH services and information accessible to all people with disabilities before, during, and after climatic events.
- Caregivers can safely deliver hygienic care.
- People with disabilities do not face harm when accessing climate-resilient WASH services.
- Climate-resilient WASH services are affordable for all people with disabilities.
- Effective mechanisms ensure the right of people with disabilities to actively and meaningfully participate in developing climate-resilient WASH solutions.
- Government officials and service providers address the needs of people with disabilities and their caregivers when providing climate-resilient WASH services.
Experts’ insights and recommendations
Dr Jane Wilbur emphasized the importance of revising and implementing policies to protect people with disabilities. She highlighted the need to ensure the availability and use of WASH materials and recommended training volunteers and the public on how to assist people with disabilities during disasters. Dr Wilbur also stressed raising awareness about appropriate measures, particularly for adolescents and women during menstruation.
Chandan Gomes, Senior Director of Operations at World Vision Bangladesh, advocated for a zero-tolerance policy to protect persons with disabilities and ensure their rights. He stressed the importance of creating a disability-friendly environment starting from home and emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan, which is currently lacking. World Vision Bangladesh aims to bring together all stakeholders including the government and provide assistance. Volunteers are being trained to protect the disabled in each disaster-prone area, with at least five disabled individuals in each group offering advice and information. Gomes also called for employment opportunities that are disable-friendly.
Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Director of BPKS, pointed out the lack of proper and acceptable research on people with disabilities in Bangladesh. He attributed this to insufficient funding, which often leads to the cessation of research activities once the funding ends. Due to the lack of reliable information about the actual number of disabled people and their needs, there are no significant facilities for disabled individuals in the country.
Salma Mahbub, General Secretary of B-Scan, discussed the detrimental impact of climate change on people with disabilities, especially in remote areas. She emphasized that Bangladesh is far behind in terms of providing necessary assistance during disasters. Although the Disability Protection Act includes 12 guidelines, there is a lack of implementation. She called for more research on the impact of disasters on people with disabilities and stressed the importance of area-based surveys to facilitate appropriate measures according to specific needs and numbers of victims.
Paritosh Chandra Sarker of World Vision Bangladesh pointed out that while there are some measures in place, they often do not meet the disability framework requirements. The needs of people with disabilities vary, making it challenging to address all types within a single framework. Sarkar called for urgent government action to ensure the rights and protection of people with disabilities and emphasized the importance of increased monitoring by relevant ministries.
Rabeya Baby, a Staff Reporter at the Daily Ittefaq, raised concerns about the adequacy of existing facilities for disabled individuals, particularly women and adolescents. She questioned whether the current infrastructure, such as stairs and high commodes in toilets, is sufficient to protect disabled individuals. Baby highlighted that most institutions that disabled women can join for employment are not disability-friendly, and disabled women often face discrimination in hospitals and from the police, even if they become mothers or victims of rape.
Anika Rahman Lipy, Assistant Director at CDD, described the protection of disabled individuals as a “pipe dream” due to the lack of a suitable environment. She pointed out that there is no system for physically disabled individuals to financially support themselves and that the management of their protection is very limited. Lipy highlighted that the situation in rural and disaster-prone areas is even worse, with disabled women and girls being the most unsafe. She called for government departments to ensure accountability in spending allocated funds for disability development projects and emphasized that development and NGO organizations could start working on issues affecting disabled individuals if accountability is ensured.
Md Nuhu Amin, Associate Scientist at ICDDRB, highlighted the lack of information on people with disabilities, noting that less than 1% of toilets in Dhaka are accessible to them. He criticized the misallocation of government funds to advanced technology instead of addressing fundamental needs and stressed the importance of technological development and collaboration among various departments to create a disability-friendly environment.
Md Shafiqul Islam, Regional Director for Asia of ADD International, noted the lack of coordination among ministries and departments working with people with disabilities. He emphasized that disability issues should not be confined to the Department of Social Welfare alone but should also involve the Department of Health Engineering, which handles WASH and Hygiene. The absence of coordination leads to various obstacles, including delays in taking appropriate actions. Shafiqul Islam also highlighted existing policies, strategies, laws, and a 20% budget for disability protection but pointed out the lack of proper activities and implementation, which must be ensured.
Saqib Huq, Managing Director of ICCCAD, emphasized the urgent need for new policies and strategies to protect the rights of people with disabilities. He pointed out the lack of implementation of existing policies and called for a unified approach where government agencies collaborate. He stressed the need for increased monitoring and prioritizing WASH allocation in the national budget. Huq also highlighted the necessity of adaptation plans and climate change strategies, calling for appropriate buildings and shelters to be constructed with all departments working together.
Abu Sayeed Khan, Adviser Editor of Samakal, highlighted the significance of infrastructural development in protecting disabled individuals. He pointed out that although disabled individuals are a part of society, they are not adequately included. Infrastructural development for their protection is not prioritized, particularly for disabled individuals in poor families who are neglected and deprived of various rights. Khan emphasized the need to give special importance to these individuals. He also mentioned that social issues, poverty, and climate change are causing various obstacles and stressed the importance of coordination and policy implementation among government institutions.
Quotes from the experts
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Dr Jane Wilbur
"Revising policies to protect people with disabilities is essential. Ensuring WASH materials are available and training volunteers to assist during disasters is crucial. Raising awareness about measures, especially for adolescents and women, is vital."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Abdus Sattar Dulal
"Lack of funding halts research on the disabled, leaving us without reliable information. This lack of data and initiatives results in no significant facilities for disabled people. Addressing their needs would benefit 50% of the population."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Salma Mahbub
"Climate change detrimentally affects people with disabilities, especially in remote areas. Despite 12 guidelines in the Disability Protection Act, there's no implementation."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Paritosh Chandra Sarker
"The government should take urgent action and increase monitoring to ensure the rights and protection of people with disabilities."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Rabeya Baby
"Current facilities, like stairs and high commodes, are insufficient for disabled individuals. Disabled women face greater obstacles, including discrimination and lack of accessibility in workplaces."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Anika Rahman Lipy
"Protection of the rights of the disabled is still a pipe dream. We lack a suitable environment for their protection, security, and mobility. Disabled women and girls in rural and disaster-prone areas are the most unsafe. Government departments must ensure accountability in spending allocated funds, and NGOs should start working on disability issues if accountability is ensured."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Dr Md Nuhu Amin
"Less than 1% of toilets in Dhaka are accessible to people with disabilities. Government funds are misallocated, and collaborative efforts across sectors are essential for creating a disability-friendly environment."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Md Shafiqul Islam
"Disability issues require coordination beyond just the Department of Social Welfare. The lack of coordination among ministries causes delays and obstacles. Existing policies and budgets need proper activities and implementation."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Saqib Huq
"We have many policies but no implementation. Government agencies need to work together under one umbrella, and new policies and strategies are needed for adaptation plans and climate change."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Chandan Gomes
"We need to create a disability-friendly environment starting from homes. Government agencies must work according to a comprehensive plan, and volunteers will be trained to protect the disabled in each disaster-prone area."
Photo: Ahadul Karim Khan/Dhaka Tribune Abu Sayeed Khan
"Disabled individuals are part of society but are not included. Infrastructural development for their protection is not prioritized, especially for those in poor families. Coordination and policy implementation among government institutions are essential."