Equal Bangladesh builds public momentum for inclusive elections

Over the past six months, the Equal Bangladesh campaign has stepped up pressure for disability inclusion.

It has combined advocacy directed towards political parties with public mobilisation, to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are not ignored as Bangladesh moves closer to its next national election.

With fewer than 10 per cent of registered voters with disabilities able to vote in past elections, exclusion from democratic processes remains widespread. In response, the campaign has focused on ensuring participation of people with disabilities through advocating for inclusive elections by influencing decision-makers while also building visibility, confidence and public support through social and sporting initiatives led by people with disabilities.

Challenging political parties ahead of the polls

With the election approaching, the campaign brought senior leaders from major political parties together for a high-level dialogue on how to include disability rights in election manifestos.

Political leaders acknowledged that while Bangladesh has aligned national legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stronger political leadership is needed to turn commitments into action. Party representatives including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), National Citizen Party (NCP), and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami committed to including disability rights in their manifestos. They also pledged to work with the Equal Bangladesh campaign and organisations of people with disabilities for technical support.

The discussions concluded with calls for nominating people with disabilities as members of parliament, training party leaders on disability inclusion, ensuring accessible election campaigns and establishing an all-party parliamentary caucus on disability rights.

Putting inclusive elections on the national agenda

Alongside public mobilisation, the campaign jointly organised a national consultation on inclusive elections. This brought together the Bangladesh Election Commission, organisations of people with disabilities, civil society, UN agencies and development partners.

The consultation created a national platform for people with disabilities to share the barriers they face across the election cycle, including inaccessible polling centres, lack of privacy and limited representation. It also produced clear recommendations for the Election Commission and political actors, calling for accessible polling centres, inclusive voter education and greater participation of people with disabilities as voters, candidates and observers.

The Election Commission incorporated campaign inputs, and campaign steering committee members, Md Jahangir Alam and Salma Mahbub, were also included as trainers. There was also a screening of the documentary, ‘Thoughts of Persons with Disabilities on Inclusive Elections’, which amplifies lived experience and reinforces demands for dignity and independence in voting.

Building national commitment through public events

Momentum continued with the celebration of disability rights week, held jointly with the United Nations Development Programme. This included the national observance of the International Day of People with Disabilities 2025 in partnership with the government of Bangladesh. The national symposium placed people with disabilities, particularly young people, at the centre of discussions on rights, accessibility and inclusive development.

Government leaders and development partners reaffirmed their commitment to advancing disability inclusion, with senior officials pledging to strengthen national coordination mechanisms and work towards implementing a 2026-2030 roadmap for a disability-inclusive Bangladesh.

Using sport to challenge exclusion

As part of its public engagement work, the campaign supported inclusive social and sporting activities that highlighted leadership, participation and equality. A two-day inclusive chess tournament brought together players with visual and hearing impairments, creating a platform where people with disabilities could compete on equal terms and demonstrate skill, strategy and confidence.

The event reinforced the campaign’s message that inclusion must extend beyond policy commitments and into everyday public life, including sport, culture and civic participation. By connecting inclusion with visibility and achievement, the campaign helped challenge stereotypes and strengthen public understanding of disability rights.

What happens next

As the election nears, the Equal Bangladesh campaign is clear that inclusion cannot be optional. By combining political pressure with public mobilisation and the leadership of people with disabilities, the campaign is working to ensure the next election marks real progress towards equal rights through the effective implementation of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013.