People with disabilities of different kinds make up 10 percent of the total population of the country. However, this fact is not reflected in our infrastructure and facilities around us. Disabled people therefore have to fight with the obstacles in their daily environment in order to carry out routine activities.
Public transport, such as buses, is inaccessible to people living with disabilities. Though there are designated seats for physically challenged persons, the seats are mostly occupied as no one follows the rules nor are they enforced.
Footpaths and overbridges for pedestrians are also inaccessible and teeming with illegal occupiers. Motorcyclists invade the walkways in order to avoid traffic. Buildings and structures such as educational institutions, shopping malls and office buildings lack the basic accessibility facilities.
The city is always under construction and for someone living with disability this is a big hurdle to mobility. Recently, Dhaka city authorities have been trying to make footpaths accessible to physically challenged people by installing tactile tracks and smooth surface.
Despite policies being in place, the
situation remains dire for people
living with disabilities in the country
Public facilities such as toilets are inaccessible to wheelchair users. Railway stairs and platforms cannot be used by the physically disabled unless someone assists them.
The government has two policies in place to address these issues including the Dhaka Building Construction Rules 2008. Buildings are required to have provisions of accessibility of challenged people. However, majority of the buildings which have been constructed since then lack the proper facilities.
Another of the laws to protect the rights of the disabled is the Disability Right & Protection Act 2013. It ensures that they have accessibility in common infrastructures such as hospitals, educational institutes, shopping centers, etc.
Despite policies being in place, the situation remains dire for people living with disabilities in the country. In order to carry out day-to-day activities they have to face several obstacles which make it difficult to get by without assistance. We want to urge the government to take this issue seriously and make accessibility of all structures and transport an absolute priority. The government must ensure the rights of the 16 lakh disabled persons in the country so that they can live their lives with ease and dignity.