Shihab

Mohammad Shihab Uddin Bhuiyan is a member of the Narsingdi Disabled People’s Organization to Development (NDPOD) in Bangladesh. He is studying for a master’s degree in political science at the University of Chittagong.

“My journey to reach my position has never been easy.

“I lost my mother when I was just six months old and was raised by my stepmother. To secure my education, I had to overcome obstacles from society and even from my own family.

“With the initiative and support of my brother and the organisation I currently lead, I was able to continue my studies and now attend the University of Chittagong.

“After joining the (British Academy funded) Youth Futures research project, I conducted research on improving the quality of life and livelihood of people with disabilities in a joint initiative between Sightsavers and BRAC University.

“It is often observed that people with disabilities tend to be reluctant in sharing their information with those without disabilities in society. So, as a person with a disability, I tried to play a role in collecting and presenting authentic information from the community.

“[Following this] I got involved with the Equal Bangladesh campaign through my connection with Sightsavers’ campaign adviser Ayon Debnath. I have been able to garner knowledge and expertise in many areas through my association with this campaign.

“We received training on a variety of topics from Sightsavers. I learned how to design a campaign and define its objectives. I also learned how to advocate for achieving the campaign’s objectives by effectively presenting our issues to policymakers and duty-bearers.

“I was initially sceptical about the inclusion of people with disabilities in collaborative settings, fearing there might be challenges while working alongside people without disabilities. However, witnessing their ability to work together effectively helped dispel my misconceptions. Now, I am working to correct the misconceptions of others about inclusion.

“Now people without disabilities also recognise that people with disabilities can do the same job as them if given the opportunity. This is a big positive aspect in terms of inclusion of people with disabilities.

“There are many who are reluctant to offer us jobs or engage us in any economic activity believing that people with disabilities are not capable of working.

“I want to tell them that if you don’t give us a chance, you won’t know what we are truly capable of achieving.

“I urge them to provide opportunities to people with disabilities. By taking steps to help them develop their skills, you will enable them to contribute to the economy just like anyone else.”

“Employers often complain that people with disabilities lack the necessary skills, which makes it further challenging to hire them for certain roles.

“However, we know that every sector has a training system. If people with disabilities are included in these programmes, they will also be able to demonstrate their skills and capabilities in various sectors through proper training.

“Although budgets are allocated across various sectors for people with disabilities like us, we often do not receive the resources that reflect the actual costs involved.

“In this context, we have provided a framework for introducing a ministry-wide disability budget for people with disabilities… we have proposed that this budget should be developed in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The national plan needs to be developed with this in mind.

“In addition to advocating with the local government, we have also [learned] how to create opportunities for engaging stakeholders through dialogues at the national level. A key goal of our campaign has been to establish pathways for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government to work together on an equal footing for people with disabilities.

“In terms of protecting the rights of people with disabilities, we are working by addressing ongoing issues highlighting the implementation of existing laws. We have established a position to work on this issue equally with NGOs and the government.

“Many organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs) were scattered and functioning sporadically. Sightsavers has developed a tool through this campaign that brings national and grassroots NGOs and OPDs together under one umbrella to work for people with disabilities.

“Individual efforts to protect the interests of people with disabilities may not be given importance by government or large organisations. However, if we approach them collectively, a rapid improvement in this issue is highly likely.

“On behalf of the Equal Bangladesh campaign, I would like to send a message to everyone: we don’t want sympathy, we want your cooperation. Please stand with us and support this campaign so that we can prove our worth. Let’s work together to build a prosperous future for all people with disabilities.”