Today marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme, “Fostering disability‑inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” is particularly resonant for Bangladesh; given the events of the past year, and with a general election only months away, this is the time to ask: Will the next government finally place disability rights at the heart of its development agenda?
There is no questioning the strides Bangladesh has made with regard to disability rights - ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities along with enacting several laws. However, there is also no questioning the fact that the lived reality for those with disabilities remains stark.
Millions of citizens with disabilities face barriers in education, employment, healthcare, and political participation. Accessibility in public transport and infrastructure is minimal, and social stigma continues to add a further layer of complexity and pain.
The inability to do better for those with disabilities is nothing if not a systemic failure that ultimately undermines our collective progress. The 2025 theme ought to remind us that true social progress is impossible without inclusion. Disability rights are not charity but justice. This is a point that this community has spoken of time and time again - the desire is for inclusion, representation, and justice. Not charity.
The upcoming election, to that end, offers a pivotal opportunity. Political parties must commit to disability‑inclusive policies, from representation in decision making to ensuring inclusive education and ease of access to basic rights that shamefully, so many Bangladeshis with disabilities fail to avail. Disability rights must stop being a token gesture and seen as a cornerstone of social development.
Our nation’s future depends on whether we are able to build a society where every citizen, regardless of ability, can contribute with dignity. December 3 must be seen as a day that reminds us that inclusion is the true measure of progress.
