Country's major buildings inaccessible to them
The country's major public buildings are not accessible to persons with disabilities, said discussants at a roundtable yesterday.
After examining 20 major public buildings in Dhaka and Chittagong, a team of researchers found that only one of the buildings had ramps for people with wheelchairs, while bathrooms of all the buildings were inaccessible, they said.
The scene remains unchanged despite Bangladesh National Building Code-2008 and the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disability Act-2013 promising access to all public premises by people with disabilities, the speakers observed.
The discussion titled “Accessibility Audit to Ensure WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Services and Rights of the Persons with Disabilities” was organised by The Daily Star, Bangladesh Society for Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN), and WaterAid at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.
A group of researchers from B-SCAN surveyed major public universities, hospitals, city corporation offices, police stations, and bus and train stations in Dhaka and Chittagong this June.
The group concluded that people who are partially or fully blind, deaf, and people who cannot walk could not access any of the establishments without assistance of others.
“It's a punishable crime that these people cannot access major public services,” said Sheikh Abdul Mannan, member (planning and development) at Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
Since acts and policies have failed to ensure equal access to people with special needs, changing people's mindset through awareness would probably change the situation, suggested Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, managing editor of The Daily Star.
Prof Zebun Nasrin of Buet, President of Society of the Deaf and Sign Language Osman Khaled, and Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare MM Sultan Mahmud, among others, spoke at the programme.
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