The Global Disability Summit 2025 (GDS2025) is set to take place in Berlin, Germany on April 2–3, 2025, bringing together over 7,000 participants, including world leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and disability rights activists.
The overarching objective of this summit is to advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and ensure that disability rights remain central to the global human rights and development agenda.
Since its inception in 2018, the Global Disability Summit has served as a critical platform for driving global commitments toward inclusion. The first summit in London (2018) and the second in Norway’s Oslo (2022) laid the foundation for transformative commitments from governments and international agencies. However, progress has been uneven, and the urgency for concrete actions has never been more important.
This year’s summit carries unprecedented significance in the backdrop of widespread development budget cuts by the Trump administration, the UK government, and several European nations. These reductions pose a significant threat to global disability programs, potentially rolling back years of progress. The global political landscape has also shifted dramatically, with increasing economic uncertainty, conflicts, and rising inequality exacerbating challenges for persons with disabilities, and also for the whole disability sector.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved unless disability rights and development agendas are prioritized. With 1.3 billion people worldwide -- nearly one in five individuals -- living with a disability, the persistent lack of access to education, healthcare, employment, and social protection demands urgent action. Despite decades of promises, people with disabilities continue to face deepening inequalities, making it imperative for world leaders to take decisive steps at GDS2025.
For Bangladesh, GDS2025 represents a critical juncture to reaffirm its commitments and translate pledges into tangible actions. Bangladesh has historically been proactive in engaging with the Global Disability Summit, making significant commitments in both 2018 and 2022. However, progress has been inconsistent, and the upcoming summit offers an opportunity for the interim government to review achievements, address gaps, and accelerate reforms.
At GDS2018, Bangladesh pledged to enhance coordination among ministries and directorates through committees formed under the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities (RPPD) Act 2013. However, meetings have been non-existent, undermining effective implementation. The government committed to empowering Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) through funding and institutional support. However, progress was minimal, and many OPDs are now struggling with funding shortages and operational challenges.
Bangladesh aimed to improve access to inclusive education, vocational training, and digital accessibility. While stipends for learners with disabilities have been introduced, many children with disabilities still lack access to quality education and necessary support services. A comprehensive disability survey was conducted following the 2018 commitment, yet the data remains unreliable and does not reflect actual figures.
Accurate disability disaggregated data is crucial for policy planning, and greater efforts are needed. Despite efforts from OPDs and disability advocates, the National Plan of Action (2019) has largely remained unimplemented. Government officials and the Ministry of Social Welfare exhibit limited awareness of the plan, leading to stalled progress.
Again, Bangladesh committed to revising its National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) with a disability-inclusive approach. While some progress has been made -- disability inclusion is now a separate chapter in the NSSS -- budget allocations remain insufficient to meet actual needs. Despite commitments to promote accessible workplaces, digital technology, and assistive devices, little progress has been made. Policies developed over the last decade lack adequate focus on disability inclusion, with exceptions like Dhaka Metro Rail’s accessibility features.
Bangladesh’s commitments at GDS2022 have a mixed picture. Bangladesh pledged to ensure disability-inclusive emergency response systems, particularly in the wake of Covid-19. However, protections remain weak, and persons with disabilities continue to face higher risks of violence, economic losses, and social exclusion during crises.
Despite commitments to improve access to therapeutic services and specialised healthcare, no visible progress has been made. Many persons with disabilities still struggle to access basic healthcare services across the country. The government committed to ensuring compliance with UNCRPD and national disability laws to enhance access to justice. However, no significant progress has been observed in making the justice system more inclusive for persons with disabilities.
While Bangladesh has worked on digital accessibility through initiatives like the national web accessibility guideline, physical infrastructure remains largely inaccessible, limiting mobility and opportunities for persons with disabilities.
With GDS2025 approaching, the interim government of Bangladesh has a unique opportunity to demonstrate strong will and advance the country’s disability rights agenda. The current administration has the power to deliver on past commitments, ensure accountability, and prioritize disability inclusion in national policies.
The commitments were intended to drive systemic change and ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in the nation’s development agenda. However, progress has been uneven, with some areas showing limited advancements and others stagnating.
Upholding these pledges is not merely a matter of fulfilling international obligations -- it is a moral and developmental imperative that will enhance the quality of life for millions of persons with disabilities. Moreover, demonstrating concrete progress on these commitments will bolster Bangladesh’s global reputation as a nation that values human rights, social equity, and inclusive development.
SDGs are built on the principle of leaving no one behind, yet persons with disabilities remain one of the most marginalized and underrepresented groups in global development efforts. Bangladesh’s Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) on SDG progress have, so far, lacked comprehensive disability-related data and analysis, making it difficult to assess how development policies are impacting this significant segment of the population.
As the country prepares its 2025 VNR, the interim government must actively engage with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations (OPDs) to ensure their voices are included in the report. Incorporating disability-disaggregated data, qualitative insights, and lived experiences in the VNR will provide a more accurate reflection of the country’s progress in achieving the SDGs.
It will also enable policy-makers to identify specific gaps and design targeted interventions to bridge them. By integrating disability rights into SDG reporting, Bangladesh can truly strengthen its commitment to inclusive development and ensure that disability inclusion remains at the core of its national agenda.
Data is the cornerstone of effective policy-making and program implementation, yet Bangladesh continues to struggle with the availability of accurate and comprehensive disability-disaggregated data. Existing figures on the number of persons with disabilities and their socioeconomic conditions vary significantly across different sources, leading to challenges in assessing the true extent of need and planning appropriate interventions. Without reliable data, policies risk being ineffective, underfunded, or misdirected.
To address this, the interim government must prioritize the collection and utilization of high-quality disability-disaggregated data through robust national surveys, improved census methodologies, and stronger coordination among relevant government agencies.
A more accurate and detailed dataset will allow for evidence-based policy-making, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and that the rights and needs of persons with disabilities are adequately addressed. Moreover, having a well-documented and transparent approach to disability data collection will strengthen Bangladesh’s position on the global stage, demonstrating its commitment to inclusive governance and development.
Disability rights are human rights. Without ensuring inclusion, the world cannot fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Persons with disabilities must not be left behind in discussions on global development, economic recovery, and social justice. As Bangladesh prepares for GDS2025, it must seize this historic opportunity to take bold actions.
The summit is not just about pledging commitments -- it is about delivering real change for millions of persons with disabilities who have waited too long for justice, inclusion, and dignity.
Ayon Debnath is a development practitioner and currently working with Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind-Sightsavers as a campaign adviser in the capacity of a global staff.
