Children and youths with disabilities in Bangladesh’s coastal regions face escalating climate risks, as worsening disasters deepen inequalities and erode access to basic services, a new study reveals.
The research, titled “Impact of Climate Change and Disasters on Children and Youths with Disabilities in the Coastal Regions of Bangladesh,” funded by Liliane Fonds (LF) and conducted by the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) in two highly climate-vulnerable sub-districts—Patharghata in Barguna and Assasuni in Satkhira—presents a stark picture of overlapping marginalization.
The findings were shared at a roundtable on October 27, organized by CDD with support from Liliane Fonds (LF) and in association with the Dhaka Tribune.
Surveying 300 individuals with disabilities aged 6 to 25, the study found 93% believe extreme weather events have worsened over the past five years, and 80% said persons with disabilities are more severely affected than other vulnerable groups.
Persistent threats like riverbank erosion, salinity intrusion, cyclones, and flooding have disrupted healthcare, education, mobility, and livelihoods. Climate-induced displacement and infrastructure loss have intensified social and institutional barriers, requiring disability-inclusive adaptation policies and stronger coordination among key ministries.
The roundtable gathered government representatives, development partners, academics, and disability rights advocates to discuss integrating inclusion into Bangladesh’s climate and disaster policy frameworks.
Nazmul Bari, Executive Director of CDD, stated: “Bangladesh has strong policies and goodwill. What we need now is consistent action."
"Children and youth with disabilities face layered vulnerabilities due to exclusion, disrupted services, and a lack of inclusion in disaster and humanitarian efforts.” he said, joining virtually from the Netherlands.
Apperloo emphasized that interventions should be multileveled, from family participation, preparedness, and planning linked economic empowerment initiatives such as cash transfer, to the policy level focused on inclusive resilience strategies and accessible services.
“Meaningful participation, cross-sector collaboration, and disability-responsive policies from local communities to international agencies are crucial for building inclusive resilience,” he added.
“We can implement the recommendations of this research in three formats short-term, mid-term, and long-term while clearly defining which actors will be responsible for each, including the government, NGOs, and development partners,” he added.
Khan detailed recent government initiatives designed to strengthen social protection.
“As part of broader safety net reforms, beneficiaries will be verified to ensure transparency. The DSS currently implements 54 initiatives reaching 3.45 million people. The monthly allowance for persons with disabilities has been increased from Tk850 to Tk900, with this year’s budget allocating Tk3,752 crore, including Tk99.96 crore for students with disabilities.”
“UNICEF has partnered with the government to design inclusive WASH systems that consider accessibility for all. To build a better future, we must work together and share responsibility.”
Saleha stressed that inclusive infrastructure is critical for long-term resilience: “When we build for accessibility, we build for everyone.”
“We are eager to be part of this work and seek guidance on what needs to be done,” he said.
Akher highlighted a new project designed to create opportunities for young people in climate-affected areas.
“We have undertaken a major project worth around Tk3,500 crore with financial support from the World Bank. It will be implemented across 250 upazilas, including coastal regions. I am hopeful this initiative will achieve meaningful results.”
“We often call people marginalized, but no one is born marginalized; it is a result of social mechanisms,” he said. “We must start a movement to ensure inclusion and cooperation at every level. Climate adaptation must be rooted in justice, not charity.”
“Climate change and natural disasters are often wrongly treated as the same issue,” he said. “We must rethink our approach when designing interventions.”
“Inclusion is not charity; it is a necessity for resilience. Inclusion is not a favor; it is a right.” “If we are to mainstream the findings of this research, it will require strong inter-ministerial coordination and cooperation. Mainstreaming is not just a policy goal; we need to translate our thinking into action,” he added.
“In any disaster, the mortality rate of persons with disabilities is two to four times higher than others,” he said. “According to Bangladesh disaster-related statistics 2021, from 2015 to 2020, under disaster-related incidents, 3,424 children died, and 9,949 people acquired new disabilities.
“CDD is working on inclusive climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian actions. We will use the research findings to design context specific programs including advocacy campaigns.
“Climate change is not just a future threat, it is a constant and disruptive reality,” he said.
Hasan outlined key policy recommendations from the research.
“We must adopt disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies. This means collecting disaggregated data, ensuring accessible services, supporting livelihoods, and enabling the active participation of youth with disabilities in decision-making.”
“People are often reluctant to go to cyclone shelters because they think the storm won’t be severe,” he said. “But when it strikes, it’s already too late. Several Union-level disaster management committees are not that active; they must be revived.”
“Collaboration between government and NGOs can solve many problems. We must turn research into action and make data drive decisions.”
“As a person with a physical disability, I face many difficulties. The cyclone shelter is two to three kilometers from my home, and during storms it’s nearly impossible to travel that far,” he said. “The stairs are hard to climb, roads are damaged, and accessibility is nearly nonexistent.”
He added, “We are told to take shelter, but we are not given the means to reach the shelters safely.”
“Bringing attention to the problems faced by persons with disabilities remains a major challenge,” she said. “There is a lack of reliable data on children with disabilities. These children are rarely invited or included anywhere; this is our collective failure. “We must also examine how our laws, which recognize 12 categories of disabilities, are reflected in government action plans. Inclusion must be real, not rhetorical.”
“These data are invaluable and must be translated into an action plan. No single organization can solve this; only joint, collective collaboration yields effective results, “ he said.
Rahman emphasized involving youth and children with disabilities directly in policymaking: “They must not only be beneficiaries but co-creators of solutions.”
“Among those who make decisions for persons with disabilities, there is rarely anyone who has lived with a disability themselves,” he said. “We have never fully recognized how climate change intersects with disability.”
“We need to ensure youths with disabilities have access to technology and accessible information, because without digital inclusion, climate action cannot be truly inclusive.”
“In poor households, accessing healthcare for a member with disability is extremely difficult,” he said.
“Climate change is worsening these challenges by creating new health issues, which makes it essential to address specific health needs of youths with disabilities in climate affected regions.
“There are no designated and accessible washrooms for persons with disabilities in cyclone shelters,” he said. “In our communities, we are often undervalued. People question our worth, asking, ‘What can they do?”
“In our area, weak embankments, impassable roads, and inaccessible shelters leave us facing further issues such as safety concerns and lack of respect.”
“Persons with disabilities are deprived of their rights because of a social system that fails them,” he said. “We must rethink this from the ground up, for example, the disability allowance is limited, and job opportunities are scarce”.
“When we talk about persons with disabilities, it must lead to action. Young leaders with disabilities must be at the forefront of initiatives on climate change adaptation.”
“In many families, persons with disabilities are hidden as if they are forbidden,” he said. “We must raise awareness to change this mindset.”
“We must extend similar research to other disaster-prone regions for a comprehensive understanding and designing intervention approaches.”
“Disasters push many children with disabilities into forced child labor. These children often fall behind in education while their peers progress,” he said.
“Children with disabilities have specific nutritional and psychological needs. Eco-anxiety, trauma, and gender-based violence must be addressed in recovery programs.”
“The government’s intent is strong, but we must make implementation more effective,” he said. “For the first time, persons with disabilities were included in consultations for the National Plan for Disaster Management 2026-2030—this is progress.”
“We are also delivering training based on the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief’s module on Disability-Inclusive Search, Rescue, and Evacuation to strengthen the capacity of first responders, including CPP volunteers, ensuring communication and support during emergencies are inclusive, effective, and dignified.”
"In the past, we focused mostly on the post-disaster recovery phase. However, we have already begun to strengthen our initiatives in the pre-disaster phase, ensuring that preparedness and risk reduction measures are in place before disaster strikes."
"To effectively execute these initiatives, we need the active collaboration and support of stakeholders across all sectors. Only through collaborative efforts can we establish an inclusive and resilient disaster management system."
“Across the world children and youth with disabilities continue to experience discrimination and exclusion, leaving them deprived of their fundamental rights.”
“With the support of Liliane Fonds, CDD is implementing a five-year programme aimed at ensuring that children and youth with disabilities have access to education, health and rehabilitation services, livelihood opportunities, empowerment, and social inclusion. Through this initiative, we are working to ensure their meaningful participation and inclusion”
“The purpose of any research should not end with data collection. We need to think about how these findings can be academically utilized and contribute to broader knowledge. At the same time, collaboration among all stakeholders is essential so that the current limitations can be addressed and future research can fill those gaps more effectively.”
