Ahead of the 13th national election, Disability Rights Watch and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) have called on mainstream political parties to ensure a 2% quota for persons with disabilities in government jobs, at least 1% representation in parliament, and reserved seats in local government bodies.
The demands were presented Thursday at a press conference titled “Expectations of Persons with Disabilities from Mainstream Political Parties ahead of the 13th National Election” at TIB’s Dhanmondi office.
Disability Rights Watch President Mansur Ahmed Chowdhury, Member Secretary Khandaker Jahurul Alam, and TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman attended the event, along with senior representatives of both organizations.
Speakers said Bangladesh’s political landscape has changed following the July uprising, with parties claiming to be more people-oriented. They stressed that the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities must be prioritized in political agendas.
They noted that although Bangladesh has enacted the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, weak implementation has left persons with disabilities facing persistent discrimination in education, healthcare, employment, and social protection. Bangladesh ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007, enacted the Disabilities Act in 2013, and adopted a National Action Plan in 2019, but enforcement has remained limited.
Key demands included immediate implementation of the National Action Plan, ministry-wise budget allocations, activation of national, district, and upazila-level committees, and amendments to the Rules of Business to ensure disability responsibilities are distributed across all relevant ministries rather than confined to the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Speakers also called for a separate 2% quota exclusively for persons with disabilities in government jobs, noting that a combined 1% quota currently exists for persons with disabilities and third-gender individuals.
They urged the government to fulfill international commitments, including regular CRPD reports to the UN, inclusion of disability-disaggregated data in SDG indicators and national surveys, and creating accessible environments in education, healthcare, transport, IT, and employment sectors.
Other demands included increasing allowances for financially disadvantaged persons with disabilities and enhancing state support for local disability organizations.
