Bangladesh is one of South Asia’s most densely populated countries. Around 1.78% of its total population consists of differently-abled people. By 2023, Bangladesh had around 18,37663 males, 11,71171 females and 2791 third genders with different types of disabilities. Back in the days, people were more ignorant about the rights and well-being of disabled people. But with the passing of time, people are more concerned about their rights.
1837663 Males
61% of total differently-abled people
1171171 Females
38.8% of total differently-abled people
2791 Third Genders
0.09% of total differently-abled people
In order to secure their rights, The Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013 was enacted in 2013. Some Articles indicate the right to work for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. The articles 15(b), 19(1), 20(1), 27, 28(1), (4), 29, and 40 of the constitution of Bangladesh express the right to work for the people with disabilities. The constitution also prohibits any kind of discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, and disability.
The Status Quo
Less than 1%
of total differently-abled people are employed
5% in Public Sector
of total differently-abled people employment
20% in Non-government Organizations
of total differently-abled people employment
Around 64% disabled people between the 15 to 65 years of age group are not engaged in earning. Persons with disabilities are less likely to be involved in any economic activity in Bangladesh. However, according to the other sources, the number of employed people in Bangladesh with disabilities is lower than 1 percent of the total disabled population. Only 5 percent of specially-abled employed people are working in the public sector. Approximately 20 percent are employed in non-government organisations, and the rest are earning through self employment.
Workers with disabilities also get paid less than others doing the same work, especially in manual jobs. Disabled people don’t get jobs because of a lack of experience. On the other hand, the existing jobs are inadequate to them. So, they can’t gather experience in the first place. Moreover, there are not enough statistics on the specially-abled people. So, it is more difficult to cover every disabled person and take necessary steps to make them skilled.
BDT 1,500
Expected increase in allowance by 2020
BDT 3,000
Expected increase in allowance by 2025
22% of Salary
Deduced for Pension
The government committed to increase the social security allowance to BDT 1,500 by 2020 and Taka 3,000 by 2025. But no steps regarding this have been taken. In the recently proposed budget, the allowance for differently-abled people is only Taka 850. This amount is inadequate in this hyper-inflationary market. On the other hand, 22% of disability allowance is deducted for pension fund of 800,000 for grade 10 to 20 government employees, even though the disabled people are in dire need of the allowance.
Police violence against physically challenged citizens goes against the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013 and is different to any standard police protocol of ‘crowd management’. But whenever the disabled people brought out any procession to fight for their rights, the police attacked them. Even many of them were injured.
24% of age 11-16
Continues education
24% of age 11-16
Continues education
5:! student to teacher ratio
For disabled students
Only 41% of disabled students of age-group 6-10 years attend primary school. The percentage drops to 24% for the students of 11-16 years. The ideal student to teacher ratio is 5:1 for disabled students. But most of the schools do not have adequate numbers of teachers. As a result, students face difficulty in learning. Moreover, late admissions add to this reduction in percentage of enrolled students. If disabilities can be identified within two years of birth, then there might be an increase in the enrolled students.
Even after being addressed by legislation, disabled people still face discrimination and exclusion. Women with disabilities are more marginalised. Ignorance and lack of knowledge regarding disabilities add up to the discrimination and negative attitudes. Even family members perceive disabled people as a shame and curse in society. This is a barrier to the development to disabled people.
Types of Disability
According to the Section 3 of Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act in Bangladesh, there are 11 categories for the people with disabilities. Among them, autism has been recently added to this list. These categories have been discussed thoroughly from section 4 to section 14. These 11 categories are explained here:
People with autism
People with autism or autism spectrum disorders face restrictions on talking or any other communication. They face restrictions on the exchange of ideas and have intellectual disability and limitations in imaginative activities. They possess the tendency to repeat the same type of work or behaviour. Moreover, their hearing, smell, taste, sight, touch, pain, and movement are less or more sensitive than others.
Physical disability
Physical disability is discussed broadly in section 5 of the same act. It refers to the obstruction due to incomplete or partial hand or foot or the obstacles faced because of the lack of physical balance.
Disability due to mental illness
Disability due to mental illness can be caused by schizophrenia, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder etc. It is discussed in section 6.
Visual impairment
Visual impairment can be of two types-absolute invisibility and partial sight. It is also discussed in section 6.
Speech impairment
Speech impairment refers to the disability with talking without hindrance at once. It is discussed in section 8.
Intellectual disability
Intellectual disability is discussed in section 9. People with this disability face difficulties with age-appropriate activities, communication and social skills and possess a low IQ. They also face limitations in teaching or problem-solving.
Hearing Impairment
Hearing Impairment is discussed in section 10. People with this disability absolutely cannot hear or can have a partial hearing.
Visual and Hearing Impairment
Section 11 mentioned the disability regarding hearing and visual impairment. It refers to the people who absolutely or partially cannot see and hear at the same time.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy refers to the disability regarding difficulty in normal movement, communication restrictions or damage in intellectual or other cases. It is mentioned in section 12.
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome is discussed in section 13. It causes intellectual disability, weak muscles and short stature.
Multidimensional Disability
Multidimensional Disability is discussed in section 14. It refers to having any of the above two or more disabilities.
Disability Inclusive National Budget
In the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-24, the government has increased budget allocation for the disabled people. In order to expand the disability identification programme, an increase in the expenditure by BDT 3.5 million to BDT 38.5 million has been proposed.
BDT 38.5 Million for Disability Identification
Increased by BDT 3.5 Million
BDT 397 Million for Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trust
Increased by BDT 40 Million
BDT 25.9 Million for rehabilitation of burn victims and disabled individuals
Increased by BDT 2.6 Million
BDT 447.3 Million for National Foundation for the Development of Disabled Persons
For 74 schools
BDT 803.2 Million for disability service and support centres
103 centres around the country
BDT 94.5 Million for schools teaching impaired students
Five schools
BDT 133.5 Million for schools teaching visually impaired students
64 integrated visually impaired educational institutions
The allocation for the Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trust was also proposed to rise by about BDT 40 million, reaching BDT 397 billion from the current budget. The government targets to incrementally raise the allocation in this sector.
The proposed budget on the rehabilitation of burn victims and disabled individuals also increased by BDT 2.6 million to BDT 25.9 million.
The National Foundation for the Development of Disabled Persons operates around 74 schools in the country. The proposed budget for this area increased to BDT 447.3 million in the current budget.
The ministry now operates 103 disability service and support centres in the country. The current budget for these service centres is now BDT 761.4 million. In the proposed budget it increased to BDT 803.2 million.
The proposed budget for five government schools teaching students with impairments increased from BDT 88 million to BDT 94.5 million and the allocation for 64 integrated visually impaired educational institutions took a leap from BDT 120 million to BDT 133.5 million.
But there is no change in the expenditure on disability allowances. Currently, the government provides a monthly allowance of BDT 850 to each disabled person.
Steps taken by the Government
Stipend Programme for Disabled Students
BDT 750 per month
in primary level
BDT 800 per month
in high-school level
BDT 900 per month
in college level
BDT 1300 per month
in university level
100,000 students in FY 2022-23
From 12,209 students in FY 2007-08
Since the fiscal year 2007-08, the government of Bangladesh has been providing stipends to students with an aim to increase the rate of education in specially abled students. Currently, the amount of stipend (In Taka) per month is 750 in primary level, 800 in high school level, 900 in college level and 1300 in university level. The number of beneficiaries increased from 12,209 to 100,000 students from fiscal year 2007-08 to FY 2022-23. The budget for this programme in FY 2022-23 was 956.40 million taka. Till FY 2022-23, the total number of beneficiaries is around 868,680 students.
Implementation of Cochlear Implants
Around 0.36% people in Bangladesh suffer from hearing disability. To ease the sufferings of these people, the government initiated a project titled ‘Development of Cochlear Implant’ in 2010 worth BDT 100 million. Under this project, the government provided cochlear devices to impoverished children and adults. Since the beginning of this program, distribution of more than 1000 cochlear devices in children and 1700 surgeries in deprived people has been completed.
In 2015, the government launched another program to provide free cochlear implants to children in need. The program has been executed by the National Institute of Ear, Nose and Throat (NIENT), Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in Dhaka. This project has been implemented with the collaboration of WHO and the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss.
However, it is important to note that these numbers are inadequate. Upscaling of such government-funded programs to support the hearing impaired population is of paramount importance.
Providing Computer Training Program
The Center for Services and Information of Disability (CSID) has been providing a computer training program since 2010 to the visually impaired people. Till 2012, CSID used to receive funds from the Sightsavers, a UK based NGO. After Sightsavers stopped providing the fund, the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) of the ICT division of the government has been providing all sorts of assistance to keep the project running. The timeline of the programme is more than three months, where people with visual impairment learn basic computer skills and general troubleshooting. Braille computer training manuals and special computer software like Screen Reader are used to run the programme. So far, this project has enabled more than 60 visually impaired people to secure jobs in IT sectors.
Under this programme, another job fair was organised this year in collaboration with the NGO Affairs Bureau of Prime Minister’s Office in Agargaon, Dhaka. 48 ICT-based organisations and job seekers with disabilities participated in this fair. More than 500 people with disabilities submitted their CVs online and many others directly in the fair. At the end of the job fair, 35 job seekers with disabilities were given a job in different posts including call centre agent, data entry, graphics design, web design, digital marketing, animation, and programming.
There are jobs such as call centre agents where many disabled people could be accommodated. The numbers of such job offerings to disabled people should increase in the future and the government should actively ensure the upscaling of such programs.
Mukta Drinking Water
75 of 81 Employess
Are disabled
128 Undergraduate Students
Provided stipend
In 2004, the government set up a plant in Gazipur to establish a state-owned factory of bottled drinking water, in order to provide jobs to the disabled people, with a brand name ‘Mukta’. The drinking water is bottled in the plant of Maitri Shilpa run by Sharirik Pratibandhi Surakkha Trust. In Mukta, around 75 out of 81 employees are disabled and they are provided vocational training. Everyday, 30,000 litres of water is produced and bottled in the factory. The packaging comes in seven sizes of bottles, with the capacity of: 250ml, 300ml, 500ml, 1.5 litres, 2 litres, 5 litres, and a jar containing 20 litres. A part of the revenue is used to provide stipend to 128 handicapped undergraduate students across the country.
Incorporation of the ILO Steps
Bangladesh’s Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has incorporated the four ILO steps to achieve an inclusive workforce.
A 5% quota was set in the 2011 National Skills Development Policy for PwDs to be incorporated into TVET programmes.
DTE offers training to participants, including institutional administrators and PwDs, through its TVET programmes. It has made it mandatory for all TVET centres to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Disabled Persons Organisations.
DTE and the ILO reconstructed 118 TVET centres to ensure inclusivity in all areas, from policies and finances to the execution of programmes.
DTE has created an information system to track 400 specially-abled students to record the number of students recruited after training and to make relevant policy changes accordingly.
Playground for Children with Special Needs
In December, 2011, the Prime Minister declared to turn the 4.16 acre land at the corner of Manik Mia Avenue and Mirpur Road, near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban to a playground for the children with disabilities. It was handed over to the National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons for the construction work. After several delays in the completion of the work, a primary design was presented in 2020 to the speaker of parliament. The playground will have benches, restrooms, boundary walls, walkways, audience gallery and changing rooms.
Establishment of Autism Academy
In July, 2019, the government took an initiative to build an autism academy to help autistic children avail the mainstream education system. The program will be worth BDT 4.2 billion. This academy will be built under the National Academy for Autism and Neuro-Developmental Disabilities.
The secondary and higher secondary education department will be working together to implement the program. The academy will consist of an administrative academic building, an academic auditorium, gymnasium and swimming pool, staff quarters, and two hostels for boys and girls, having accommodation facilities for 100 children each. Children with ASD and NDD can also avail scholarships, various training, residential facilities as well as ICT facilities under this program. Moreover, 400 master trainers have been developed as ‘Training of Trainers (TOT)’ for the academy to provide better training.
Currently, 40 educational institutions have been brought under this program.
Establishment of Sports Complex
In July, 2021, the government has taken up a project worth BDT 45 billion, to establish a sports complex for deprived, disabled and autistic children in Savar. The sports complex will have two basements, 11-storey dormitory, residential building, gymnasium, football ground, cricket ground, gallery, swimming pool and mosque.
In 2019, another sports complex was established in Mirpur 14. This project cost around BDT 830 million. The sports complex is built on one acre of land. The project aims to provide medical treatment, sports and cultural facilities for the disabled people.
Establishment of Housing for Children with Autism
In April, 2022, the government declared the establishment of permanent housing and employment for children with autism. The Ministry of Social Welfare will execute this project in Dhaka and other districts in collaboration with Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trust.
The trust is jointly implementing ‘Bangabandhu Suraksha Bima’ with the General Insurance Corporation to protect people with NDD. This trust has also given online training to guardians in 190 upazilas of 53 districts of Bangladesh to create knowledge about home based care and mental health of children and individuals with autism. Moreover, two applications named ‘I want to say’ and ‘Smart Autism Message’ have been created. Through these apps, children’s autism can be assessed at home.
Recognition by the International Paralympics Committee
In June, 2022, Bangladesh has gained recognition from the International Paralympics Committee. Due to legal complications, Bangladesh could not take part in the International Paralympics sports for a long time. As a result of this recognition, Bangladeshi players with special needs can participate in every international sports competition.
Establishment of School
In the budget of fiscal year 2024-25, BDT 90 million is proposed for the construction of the academic building and therapy centre of the Goleja Khatun School for Intellectual Disability and Autism at Gopinathpur in Pirganj, Rangpur. Currently, there are 73 active schools across the country for the disabled students. To comply with the targets of SDG, 38% of schools have ramps for wheelchair users.
Initiatives from Other Organisations
Providing Microfinance and Training
In 2015, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), initiated a project titled “Initiating Microfinancing and Micro-enterprises for a whole city sub-district”. Under this project, 250 PwDs were given access to microfinance and an opportunity to create a group financial fund to be used on a needs basis. They were trained and 100 of them became small-scale entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs were facilitated with the opportunity to set up business without any rent obligations.
Digital Talking Books for Visually Impaired
In September 2018, YPSA took up a project to provide reading materials for visually impaired people in tertiary education. 2000 students of college and university level in Chittagong city corporation area benefited from this project. Ten institutions were covered by this project. The digital talking books were completed in a DAISY format. YPSA, along with the Access to Information program (A2I), has also produced books in DAISY format for school level students which has proven its effectiveness. Moreover, these books are more cost effective and efficient compared to the paper books. This project also reduced dropout rates in primary and tertiary level education.
Moreover, 80% of the project staff were females with disabilities. Apart from running the production procedure, they also got accessibility to these reading materials.
Braille Books on Menstrual Hygiene
In May, 2023, Project Konna by Give Bangladesh Foundation took an initiative to provide a braille book regarding information on menstrual health among female students with visual impairment to create menstrual hygiene and health awareness. In the first phase of the campaign, project Konna served 70 students of three schools. Under this campaign, a braille module that contains information on menstrual hygiene management, along with menstrual hygiene kits covering six months was distributed. The hygiene kits included sanitary napkins, hot water bags, vitamin C tablets, painkillers, toilet tissue paper and hand wash and other necessary things. The cost for one student is BDT 1300.
Their beneficiaries included marginal people like low-wage workers, orphans, madrasah children, and coastal women etc.
Other Programmes
Faith Bangladesh is a programme involving “A comprehensive approach to identify children with disabilities through capacity building of government and NGO health workers and disability service mapping in Bangladesh”. It uses innovative ways to identify signs of disability at early stages of childhood and increase the potential of relevant institutions and persons catering to the needs of PwDs. The project also focuses on mapping disability to make data easily accessible to policy makers. The core aim is to create a job market for the PwDs.
Moreover, CBM Global Disability inclusion Bangladesh has been working since 2015 to ensure inclusiveness for the specially abled people, along with government, local non-governmental and disabled people’s organisations. From 2015-2020, they have reached 858,216 people from 30 districts in collaboration with seven implementing partners.
Recommendations
- Specially-abled persons cannot avail long term training due to accessibility constraints. The government should take steps to provide more equipment and make the equipment accessible to them. Steps should also be taken to reduce the social stigma related to disabilities.
- To ensure employment, it is necessary to conduct a ‘skill needs mapping‘. It will ensure better and relevant skill development.
- The ratio of illiterate to educated disabled people is 4:1. Thus, technical education is necessary to support these people with no access to higher education. It will help them to earn from home as well.
- The government and private organisations should work together to create more employment opportunities and more skilled people with disabilities.
- Lack of transportations designed particularly for disabled people escalates dropout rates in higher education. Thus, adequate transportations should be provided to ensure the safety of such people. In-home education systems can help to increase capability for people with disabilities.
- The current disability allowance is inadequate to improve the quality of life. The government should take steps to increase this allowance according to the previous commitment.
About the Author
Umme Farzana Rupa, a former debater, currently excelling as a passionate student at Bangladesh University of Professionals. Engaging communicator and dedicated learner, she continues to thrive in academics, leaving her mark on campus with her inquisitive spirit and determination.