An innovative new research project looking into the challenges, hopes and aspirations of young people with disabilities in Bangladesh has been launched at Lake Castle in Dhaka on Tuesday 31 August 2021.
The project, “British Academy Youth Futures Research”, will capture the experiences of young people with disabilities living in urban and rural settings in Bangladesh. It will be led by a group of newly-appointed young peer researchers who have disabilities and will be trained and supported to shape national policy on disability inclusion.
Professor Dr Md Golam Rabbani, Chairperson, Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trustee Board was the chief guest while Provash Chandra Roy, Director at National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons, and Shobnom Mustary, Deputy Director, Ministry of Social Welfare were the special guests at the event, which is hosted jointly by Sightsavers and BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health. Amrita Rejina Rozario, Country Director of Sightsavers Bangladesh, said: “We are delighted to have been able to launch this new research that will try to understand the experiences, aspirations, and challenges of youths with disability in their livelihood in Bangladesh and, to explore the inclusion of young people with disabilities into policy dialogues around the implementation of SDG8: decent work and economic growth.”
Although Bangladesh continues to maintain impressive economic growth and is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), challenges remain in addressing the increasing economic inequality, gender inequity, youth unemployment and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, Professor Dr Md Golam Rabbani said, “Research is an important component for societal development and there is no alternative to research for development.”
He hoped that this research, once complete, will help understand aspirations of youth with disabilities in relation to livelihoods and determine barriers in realising those aspirations.