DHAKA, Dec 4, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh reaffirmed its national commitment to advancing disability inclusion as government leaders, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), UN agencies, civil society, youth representatives, and development partners gathered for the National Observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2025. 

The event, held today at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC) in Dhaka, center on the theme "Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress." 

Jointly organized by the Social Security Policy Support (SSPS) Programme of UNDP and Sightsavers' Equal Bangladesh Campaign with funding support from the Australian Government, along with technical assistance from the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, ILO, UN Women, UNICEF, and WFP, the daylong national symposium placed people with disabilities, especially youth, at the heart of the conservation on rights, accessibility, and inclusive development. 

Bangladesh has made significant policy commitments over the past decade. Yet, people with disabilities continue to face persistent barriers in education, employment, public services, and decision-making spaces. 

This year's observance focused on bridging these gaps through coordinated action and concrete national commitments, said an UNDP press release.

Chief Guest, Sharmeen S. Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare, called for a strengthened national movement. 

"Our society can't be truly inclusive unless we fully consider the needs of persons with disabilities. Inclusion begins with accurate data, functional structures, and accessible systems," she said committing to activating the national coordination committee.

James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission and Development Director, emphasized, "The UK stands ready to partner with Bangladesh and like-minded agencies to make inclusion a reality. We truly believe we can build a future where every person with a disability is seen, supported, and celebrated." 

Reaffirming multilateral support, Max Tunon, Country Director of ILO, stressed the importance of creating accessible and dignified pathways to employment, "At the ILO, we are committed to building a labour market where persons with disabilities are not only given opportunities, but fully empowered to thrive with dignity." 

UNDP's Deputy Resident Representative-OIC, Dragan Popovic, highlighted, "From policy reform to mainstreaming disability across justice, governance, and gender programs, UNDP is committed to making inclusion a reality; not just in laws, but in people's everyday lives." 

Tessa Murphy, Head of Global Campaigns at Sightsavers UK, Muhammad Hiruzzaman, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the National Institute of Mass Communication under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Director General of the Department of Social Services (MoSW), along with senior government officials and representatives from UN agencies, shared powerful insights on building a disability-inclusive Bangladesh. 

The event opened with a welcome from Amrita Rejina Rozario, Country Director of Sightsavers Bangladesh. 

This was followed by a joint keynote presentation by Aminul Arifeen, Project Manager of the Social Security Policy Support (SSPS) Program at UNDP and Ayon Debnath, Campaign Adviser at Sightsavers, who laid out a strategic roadmap for a disability-inclusive Bangladesh for 2026-2030. 

Through a series of dynamic thematic sessions, the symposium explored the pillars of disability inclusion of decent work and social protection, inclusive education and community support, and accessible infrastructure and digital inclusion. 

Each session brought forward actionable ideas, reinforcing the collective commitment to ensure that Bangladesh's journey toward inclusion is both transformative and sustainable. 

The symposium concluded with renewed commitments from government officials, development partners, OPDs, and civil society organizations to work collectively toward materializing the 2026-2030 roadmap, building an 'Equal Bangladesh' where no one is left behind.