As the world marks the UN International Day of Sign Languages, Bangladesh must contend with a painful truth: Millions of deaf citizens continue to live without meaningful access to communication, education, healthcare, or justice.
The scale is enormous: An estimated 9.6% of Bangladesh’s population are deaf or hard of hearing. Hearing loss affects 34.6% of the population, and profound deafness affects 1.2%, with rural and low‑income communities suffering disproportionately.
That most cases arise from preventable causes is no surprise; chronic ear infections, poor sanitation, and lack of early treatment are all therefore failures of public health, not fate.
Deaf people continue to struggle accessing interpreters in hospitals, courts, police stations, and schools. Teacher training remains inadequate, with sign language rarely used in public services and employment barriers keeping many deaf individuals trapped in poverty.
This gap between recognition and reality is nothing if not a violation of rights. Sign languages are essential for full participation in society -- without them, deaf people are denied equal access to information, education, and civic life.
Our own disability laws mandate the development and use of sign language in public institutions, yet implementation remains inconsistent and negligible.
We cannot brush aside the rights of the deaf. Millions of citizens should not be deprived of essential services that everyday people take for granted. Integrating sign language therefore is critical if we are to truly progress as a nation. No hospital, school, or government office should be allowed to ignore these requirements.
Asking for equal access in their own country is not special treatment nor favours. We must commit to turning recognition into real rights, and silence into inclusion. Every citizen is entitled to that.
