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Don’t wait for change to happen: be the change!

Join our campaign for disability rights to ensure equality for all in Bangladesh.

A young girl in school uniform walks outside in Bangladesh.

The Equal Bangladesh campaign is a powerful movement for change that will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people with disabilities in the country.

This coalition campaign aims to promote disability rights and inclusive policies in Bangladesh.

We are calling for the National Disability Act 2013 to be implemented, which will ensure disability rights are embedded into national legislation and domesticate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

 

Nasrin Jahan, ED of Disabled Child Foundation, speaks in a cocreation workshop.

Read the campaign briefing

View as a PDF

Background to our campaign

The government of Bangladesh has signed and ratified almost all human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

It has also taken steps to domesticate its international obligations, with laws either newly enacted or modified.

Full implementation of the Disability Act 2013 and the National Action Plan are critical if the rights of people with disabilities are to be realised in Bangladesh.

Currently, there are key gaps and barriers to fully implementing the Disability Act and Action Plan.

We seek to influence policymakers to adopt measures that enhance the rights of people with disabilities.

The aim is to make sure everyone has access to resources, employment, and public services by ensuring the National Action Plan on Disability is implemented effectively.

Voices of the campaign

A photo of Morjina, a member of the Equal Bangladesh campaign, holding a photo of herself with the word 'change' written on it.

Morjina

“Our main strength is unity; there is no alternative to unity. The campaign has given us this opportunity.”

Read Morjina's story
A photo of Mohammad sitting in his wheelchair.

Mohammad

“Initially, we started with just 36 players, but we now have expanded to include over 200 cricketers”

Read Mohammad's story

Meet the steering committee

The campaign is run by a committee of eight members from coalition partners, elected by all members, with Sightsavers serving as the secretariat.

  • Nasima Akter, National Council of Disabled Women
  • Bashir Al-Hossain, National Grassroots Disabilities Organization
  • Jahangir Alam, Centre for Disability in Development
  • Mohammed Antaj Ali, Manikganj Disabled People’s Organization to Development
  • Nasrin Jahan, Disabled Child Foundation
  • Morjina Ahmed, Disabled Welfare Society
  • Mohammed Shahidul Islam, Tangail Disabled People’s Organization to Development
  • Salma Mahbub, Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN)

Behind-the-scenes with Equal Bangladesh

In March 2024 activists from across Bangladesh came together to plan the next steps of the campaign and collaborate for change that will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people with disabilities in the country.

Watch the video to find out what they got up to.

Campaign partners

B-SCAN logo
CDD - Centre for Disability in Development logo
Centre for Services and Information on Disability logo
Disabled Child Foundation logo
Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh_DSSB logo
Gana Unnayan Kendra-GUK logo
Kapasia Protibondi Unnayan Parishad logo
Manikganj Disabled Peoples Organization to Development-MDPOD logo
Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Protibondi Unnyan Parishad (NSUPUP) logo
National Council for Disabled Women_NCDW logo
NGDO logo
Society of the Deaf & Sign Language Users_SDSL logo
Spondhon logo
Tangail Disabled Peoples Organization to Development_T-DPOD logo
UNDP logo
VIPS logo
WDDF logo
Humanity and Inclusion logo
ADD international logo

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