In pursuit of true accessibility: How infrastructure fails persons with disabilities in Bangladesh

Illustration: TBS

Having contracted Polio at the age of two, Nigar Sultana Sumi has since had the lower half of her body paralysed, robbing her of mobility entirely.

Nigar was born and raised in Narayanganj district where she attended her school, college and university. It was her mother, who carried her every day, holding her as she climbed the stairs of her school. 

Other than a few high-end schools in Dhaka, few other educational institutions in the country have lifts or ramps that make them accessible to people with disabilities.

But Nigar is a fighter. Back then, she fought for education, now, she fights for a livelihood.

She currently works at a buying house in the capital and lives in a rental apartment on her own, without anyone's help.

"Securing a mainstream job was a challenge. Finding an accessible home near the main road, suitable for wheelchair use, was an even bigger challenge. Affording that home is another challenge, as the rent nearly matches my salary," she shared. 

"Now, I sublet the space to two other girls who help split the cost, making it somewhat manageable."

As of yet,  other than the metro, no public transportation in the country is accessible for people with mobility disabilities. The metro, however, has one particular route and covers only a small fragment of the city.

"Sadly, the metro system still lacks any provisions for discounts or half-pass cards for persons with disabilities. On top of that, the government allowance for individuals with disabilities is only Tk850, which hardly covers even the basics," she shared.

Nigar takes a rickshaw to get to the office microbus every day. The rickshaw pullers often refuse to take her with the wheelchair. She sometimes has to pay them extra otherwise they will not fold and then unfold the wheelchair for her during the commute. 

"The transportation system is simply not accessible to us. The bus helpers are not willing to take a wheelchair and often behave in an ill-mannered way. Rickshaws and CNGs don't have space for a wheelchair. Uber and Pathao are very expensive, and sometimes it is difficult to find the right vehicle."

Joshiah Sangma, banker diagnosed with brittle bone disease

A similar story was shared by Joshiah Sangma, who has faced mobility challenges since birth due to Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition commonly known as brittle bone disease.

Joshiah Sangma is a banker at a state-owned bank. Every morning, he starts his commute to work from his residence in Mirpur. He takes the metro from Mirpur station, which drops him off to Dhaka University station near his bank.

Thankfully, Joshiah's wheelchair is an electric one and he can drive it himself to the metro. He has his work route somewhat sorted out, but beyond that, he can not commute much even if he wishes to.  

Section 32 of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013, mandates reserving 5% of public transport seats for persons with disabilities. However, inadequate infrastructure, unsupportive systems and inaccessible vehicle designs, particularly for wheelchair users, often deny them access. This inaccessibility limits their education, healthcare and employment opportunities, violating their fundamental rights.

"The transportation system is simply not accessible to us. The bus helpers are not willing to take a wheelchair and often behave in an ill-mannered way. Rickshaws and CNGs don't have space for a wheelchair. Uber and Pathao are very expensive, and sometimes it is difficult to find the right vehicle," said Joshiah.

Besides, the roads, often poorly constructed, are filled with speed bumps and various obstacles. It is extremely difficult for a wheelchair user to navigate.

According to the government at the time the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act 2013 of Bangladesh came into effect, 2.80% of people in the country have disabilities — 3.28% for males and 2.32% for females.

It is estimated that more than one million people with disabilities live in Dhaka. However, activists like Salma Mahbub believe the number is even higher as many people with disabilities stay undocumented in the government registry.

Salma Mahbub is also the general secretary of the Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN). Over the years, B-SCAN has been at the forefront of advocating for accessible public buses, working directly with the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) to bring about necessary changes. 

"These people are everywhere. You do not see them often because they do not have the medium to reach parties, events or social gatherings. They unfortunately do not get invited either," she explained. 

Salma is also a wheelchair user. Before availing a personal car, she did not see much of the world and her life was confined to her home.

"I have the privilege of owning a car and this is a vital reason why I can go out and you can see me. However, it is still very difficult for me as our infrastructure is barely friendly to persons with disabilities. But what about others? How do they make themselves visible and make a living with dignity?" she said. 

Repeated promises without implementation 

In 2013, over 100 wheelchair users gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar to demand accessible public transportation. The rally was organised by B-SCAN, in collaboration with WaterAid and the Rotary Club.

Obaidul Quader, the then Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, attended the event and assured participants that the government would prioritise accessibility. He pledged that all future imports of buses would include at least one vehicle with wheelchair-accessible ramps.

However, the promise remains unfulfilled to this day.

Sabrina Sultana, a wheelchair user diagnosed with muscular atrophy and the founder president of B-SCAN was one of the rally's leading advocates. She is also the founder of Krishty, an independent learning centre for persons with disabilities,

"After the rally, we approached BRTC with our demands but were turned down. Realising that accessible buses wouldn't be imported for us anytime soon, we launched a design competition," Sabrina explained. 

"Students from BUET, CUET, MIST and other institutions submitted designs for accessible buses, and nine of those were selected for further consideration. BRTC assured us that they were working on the matter with their consultancy team, but unfortunately, nothing has materialised yet," added Sabrina. 

"Even our neighbouring countries like India and Nepal have accessible taxis for people with disabilities. But we don't have any," said Salma.

Since 2009, Salma has been fighting for the rights of people with disabilities. She, as a representative of her community, sat several times with the Dhaka Transportation Coordination Association (DTCA) and  Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in pursuit of accessible taxis but the authorities were simply reluctant.

In 2023, when she sat again with the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, she was refused again as "the proposal needs more research and feasibility."

"It is not our job to do the research and make it feasible," she said. 

According to urban planner Dr Adil Mohammad Khan, Dhaka's chaotic and diverse urban fabric poses significant challenges to implementing large-scale accessibility changes. However, small, targeted initiatives could create a meaningful impact.

"Dhaka's public transportation is already a nightmare for most people, let alone those with disabilities. Instead of renovating the existing fleet, we could consider introducing a dedicated shuttle service for wheelchair users, perhaps running at one- or two-hour intervals. A similar service for women has proven effective," he suggested.

Such a service would enable individuals with disabilities to plan their outings more efficiently. Integrating the system into an online app would further ease up the process, offering real-time updates and scheduling options.

"Equally important is the need to upgrade our footpaths. Continuous, well-maintained sidewalks with proper ramps and clear signage would significantly improve navigation for people with mobility challenges," he added.

A few years ago, the Bangladesh Tourism Board identified 1,500 potential tourist spots across the country, aiming to enhance and develop them. Salma, representing B-SCAN, engaged in discussions with the board, advocating for these destinations to be made accessible to persons with disabilities. While the management agreed in principle to her requests, the promises have yet to translate into action.

We reached out to Mohammad Saiful Hasan, the project director of the initiative, but he did not respond.  

'Sightseeing is a daydream'

"We now see many good quality imported buses for long-distance commutes. But not a single one of them is accessible for wheelchair users. In the whole railway system, we only have Suborno Express that has reserved seats for persons with disabilities," said Salma.

As a result, the lives of persons with disabilities are confined to a small territory.

"From my office, I get many paid leaves annually. I spend them at home. My hometown is in Narayanganj. For me, it is not affordable to rent a car or take an Uber intercity ride to go there and spend a few days with my family," said Nigar.

Joshiah shared the same sentiment, stating, "Sightseeing is a daydream to us. It is hard to drive a wheelchair on the sand. So we cannot even think of a beach trip. For hilly terrains, it is also hard because of the absence of proper roads and bridges."

As of now, no organisation is working on tourism for people with disabilities. Previously, OPD Network used to arrange a few events or picnics for them. But that has stopped due to inadequate funding.

"Even if we manage to reach a tourist spot somehow, then what? Most of the buildings do not have an accessible entrance, let alone a ramp or toilet. The absence of an elevator restricts us from going to many places. The entire infrastructure of the country is unfriendly to us," said Nigar.

Nigar shared her experiences of visiting several resorts that advertise themselves as accessible. However, she found that the claim often turned out to be superficial, with little to no practical accessibility features in place. 

"There's no organisation or regulatory body to monitor or ensure these facilities meet actual accessibility standards," she said.

'To this day, we are not properly addressed' 

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a landmark human rights treaty, came into effect in 2008 to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide. 

In alignment with this, Bangladesh enacted the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act in 2013, integrating the principles of the CRPD into its domestic legal framework.

However, the reality on the ground often diverges from the intent of these policies. "To this day, we are not properly addressed," Salma said. 

Salma added, "Although the CRPD clearly stipulates that we should be referred to as persons with disabilities, we are often labelled as 'specially abled' or 'differently abled.' Many, unsure of the appropriate terminology, avoid addressing us altogether, even in formal events. To establish our rights, first, we need to be addressed properly."