| Materials : Country/Review Paper
COUNTRY PAPER: BANGLADESH
Regional Workshop:
Monitoring the Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for
Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Right-based Society for
Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
13-15 October 2004, Bangkok, Thailand
Prepared by
Mr. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed
Minister
Ministry of Social Welfare
Government of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh
1. General overview of legislative protection of the Persons with
Disabilities in Bangladesh
The basic human rights as a citizen of Bangladesh has been protected by
its constitution regardless of gender, classes, religions, races etc. It
does not discriminate persons with disabilities or persons without
disabilities. The National Policy for Persons with disabilities, 1995 was
taken as its basis from the relevant constitutional provisions dealing with
the fundamental rights of the people alongwith the persons with
disability. Following the Policy and the international commitments on United
Nations Standard Rule on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities, in April 2001 the Government of Bangladesh has finally enacted
the Disability Welfare Act-2001 to protect and promote the rights of the
persons with disabilities.
The legislation includes formation of legislative both at national and
district levels bodies (National Coordination Committee, District
Coordination Committee), defining the roles and responsibilities of
activities on national and local level coordination on disability-concerned
issues. This also includes definitions of disabilities, provision for access
to rights-based issues in multi-sectoral development components through 10
(ten) schedules.
The enactment of the legislation has been accepted and considered as a
milestone of development for ensuring the rights and privileges of persons
with disabilities. Government is very much aware and sincere to make
provision for taking action against the violator of law. Initiative has also
been taken to eliminate all sorts of conflicts, if any, regarding law.
Considering the consequences, the Government in association with National
Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD), a network and
coordination body of organisations working with the persons with
disabilities in Bangladesh formed a committee, reviewed the Disability
Welfare Act-2001 and proposed the necessary amendment to establish
indispensable rules and bylaws in support of strengthening and specifying
the effective implementation of the legislation.
2. Current level of implementation of BMF in the country:
Being a signatory of the bygone ESCAP Decade of Disabled Person, and an
active member country of formulating and launching the Biwako Millennium
Framework, Bangladesh has initiated implementing activities towards
addressing the inclusive, barrier free and rights bases society for persons
with disability in the country. An adequate attention and consideration by
the government and NGOs have been given in spite of multifarious
socio-economic limitations. The notable areas of activities are:
National Policy for Persons with disabilities:
A National Policy for Persons with disabilities has been approved in the
cabinet in 1995 in pursuance of the constitutional provisions dealing with
the rights of the people with disability. The said Policy was also based on
the commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh through adopting the
United Nations Standard Rule on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities,
In accordance with the Policy and the international commitments, the
Government has enacted the Disabled Welfare Act, 2001. The law has been
considered as a forward step towards realising the various commitments of
the Government in protecting the rights of the persons with disabilities.
The Disability Legislation:
The Disability Welfare Act 2001 provides legislative support to ensure
protection of rights and to ensure equal opportunity of persons with
disabilities. The legislation includes formation of legislative bodies, both
at national and district levels, defining the roles and responsibilities of
activities on national and local level coordination on disability concerned
issues. This also includes definitions of different disabilities, provision
for access to rights-based issues in multi-sectored development components,
etc.
The schedule of the act covers 10 specific areas of consideration with
detail scopes and provisions. These are: Disabilities Prevention,
Identification, Curative Treatment, Education, Health Care, Rehabilitation
and Employment, Transport and communication, Culture, Social Security and
Self-help organization.
In spite of all sincerity and commitments to the Disability Welfare Act,
2001,there has being found some limitations at the implementation stage.
National co-ordinating council:
The National coordinating council was reformed and strengthened allowing
it to be more effective in its work. A task force has also been formed to
efficiently undertake and coordinate different activities on disability
concern. District Coordination Councils are also in its process of formation
all over the country with high government official and representatives of
NGOs working on disability issues as members.
At the NGO level the networking, cooperation and collaboration among the
different NGOs working on disability issues increased. The National forum of
Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) has been extended and
strengthened as an active player in the field of disability in co-ordination
with Government of Bangladesh.
National Foundation for the Development of the Disabled People:
To support the work on disability issues the Government has formed the
National Foundation for the Development of the Disabled People. The
foundation has provided funding support to activities of different
organizations NGO's, and agencies.
Job Creation:
The government has emphasized strongly in following the 10% quota system
for the employment of people with disabilities. Recently the Honourable
Prime Minister has announced 1% quota for persons with disability in
government cadre services. It's now in the process of implementation.
The scheduled banks are also making special arrangements for allocating
Micro credit facilities for the peoples with disabilities, under the
directives of the Government. Government is extending Micro Credits through
the Department of Social Services under different projects (RSS, UCD, RMC
etc.) without any interest to the persons with disabilities. In the
transports both in private & public sector, arrangement has been made to
reserve seats for the people with disabilities. The assistive devices and
its accessories can be imported in the country without taxes. The building
code also ensured about the accessibility for people with disabilities in
all constructions.
Mainstreaming Disability Issues:
The country has also seen a rising tendency among the development
organizations on initiating disability program interventions. There is an
increase in the quantity of skilled human resources with the capacity to
provide services to the people with disabilities.
Community Based Approaches for programs on disability issues have also
been preferred more allowing service to be in the doorsteps of the people
with disabilities in their communities.
Education of learners with disabilities:
The need for more attention for education of learners with disabilities
is being focused. The scope of including learners with disabilities into
mainstream education alongwith the establishments on special education are
also being considered.Different agencies,organisation and the mass media
have also contributed in creating awareness and sensitisation of the general
people on disability issues.
National Action Plan on disability concerned issues:
A national Action Plan on disability concerned issues has been developed
and approved by an inter ministerial taskforce comprised of representatives
from all relevant government ministries/departments alongwith NGO/DPO
representative and disabled peoples.
The Action Plan has covered the areas projected in the Biwako Millennium
Framework like, self-help organization, women with disability, early
detection and intervention, education, training and employment, access to
built environment and transport, access to communication, assistive
technology, social security, public awareness etc.
Action implemented in reference to BMF:
Two posters on Biwako Millennium Framework, one in Bangla and the other
in English have been published and circulated to all concerned agencies.
The Biwako Framework has been translated in Bangla. It is expected to be
printed and published shortly.
A conference on Biwako Framework was organised with inter ministerial and
NGOs/DPOs representative along with disabled people through which a thorough
introduction has been made.
Training on disability-concerned issues is being provided to the officers
of Social Services department, which is concerned to implement and
coordinate disability programs nationwide. The contents on Biwako Millennium
framework included in the disability-concerned training of Social Services
Officers. The program managers of NGOs working with disability issues are
being provided with disability program management training in which the
Biwako framework has been introduced.
Mainstreaming of disability issues:
The national policy on disability-concerned issues includes the projected
areas like early detection and intervention, education, training and
employment, access to built environment and transport, access to
communication, assistive technology, social security, public awareness etc.
The recent national plan of action contains actions on the similar areas of
activities.
International convention for person with disability:
The Government of Bangladesh has expressed support to UN Adhoc Committee
on the comprehensive and Integral on Protection and Promotion of the Rights
and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.
The basic human rights as a citizen of Bangladesh are protected by its
constitution. The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
contains provisions for equal opportunities and participation for the
"backward section" of its population.
3. Views on need of an International Convention on Disability:
Bangladesh considers the process of Globalisation in the context of 21st
century and the proposed 'International convention on Protection and
Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities' would be
effective and powerful instrument, to strengthen national legislation
concewith persons with disabilities through ratifying by the Government of
the member states of United Nations.It will also promote and strengthen
International cooperation in protecting the violation of Human Rights of
Persons with Disabilities.
Conclusion:
There has been substantial progress undoubtedly, but it needs more
extension & expansion. Now, Bangladesh needs to take more efforts to
establish Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities. With regard to the Biwako framework, Bangladesh has been able
to initiate some interventions, but it would require a lot of inputs and
resources from national and international sources with effective and
efficient policies, strategies, programs and action plans to change the
quality of life of people with disabilities in the country. Different actors
and players including people with disabilities, their families and the
communities need to be involved in all the areas from primary to tertiary
sectors in the country's effort to build a better nation.
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