Once neglected and marginalized, persons with disabilities and elderly citizens in parts of Khulna region are now playing an active role in social awareness and economic development. Through resilience, skills training, and institutional support, many have transformed their lives from hardship to self-reliance, with some even exporting handicrafts abroad and receiving national recognition.
Thirty-year-old Toffee Khatun of Shimulia village in Jhikargacha upazila of Jashore contracted polio after receiving a vaccine at the age of one, leaving one of her legs paralyzed. Her life was marked by struggle, social neglect, and discrimination. Today, however, she is financially independent. Toffee produces handcrafted items made from date palm leaves and straw, which are exported overseas. Each product sells for around Tk 60, providing her with a stable income. Like her, many people with disabilities in her village are now engaged in similar work.
Similar stories of resilience come from other districts. Rikha Karmakar of Chandpai area in Mongla of Bagerhat, and Shahanara Begum of Karpasdanga in Damurhuda of Chuadanga, both persons with disabilities, have rebuilt their lives after facing severe hardship and abuse. For their entrepreneurial success and social contributions, they were awarded the prestigious “Joyita Award” at the upazila level in 2023 and 2025.
Currently, 1,775 elderly and persons with disabilities across three upazilas in Chuadanga, Jashore, and Bagerhat are actively contributing to their communities. Ten years ago, many of them lacked the confidence to enter government offices. Today, they independently access old-age allowances, disability benefits, widow allowances, and other government services, while also helping others navigate these systems. They are now welcomed in union parishads, sit alongside Upazila Nirbahi Officers, and voice their opinions at district-level programs.
Behind this transformation is the long-term work of Caritas Bangladesh. Since 2005, Caritas has been working to improve the socio-economic conditions of elderly and persons with disabilities. In Khulna region, its SDDP-B project has been operating since 2016 in three unions—Karpasdanga, Shimulia, and Chandpai. The project focuses on health, education, skills development, rights-based advocacy, and social inclusion.
According to Snigdha Mou Ghosh, Regional Monitor of Caritas Bangladesh (SWVC), the organization initially followed a charity-based approach, providing medical support, financial aid, assistive devices, and emergency assistance. Later, recognizing the need for sustainability, Caritas shifted to a rights-based model emphasizing skills training and self-reliance.
Albin Nath, Regional Director of Caritas Bangladesh in Khulna, said that the development of elderly and persons with disabilities is not merely a humanitarian duty but a commitment to social justice. “They should be viewed not as a burden, but as a source of experience and potential,” he said, calling for coordinated efforts by the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and society.
Under the project, 24 clubs and three women-with-disabilities forums have been formed across the unions, with one forum already receiving government registration. Members have received training in tailoring, poultry rearing, computer skills, advocacy, and networking. Over 80 percent of beneficiaries are now linked to government welfare schemes.
Field observations show significant improvements in social acceptance, family support, and community leadership. Once seen as helpless, these individuals are now respected, confident, and economically active—proving that with the right support, barriers can be transformed into bridges toward inclusive development.
