As Bangladesh prepares for its 13th national parliamentary election on February 12, persons with disabilities are urging political parties to make disability rights a core political commitment, while parties themselves offer cautious assurances that concrete pledges are forthcoming. “Without measurable targets, these promises remain rhetorical,” said Jahangir Alam, senior coordinator at the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD). Otherwise, disability rights will again be sidelined.”Accessibility remains a major concern across sectors. Salma Mahbub, general secretary of the Bangladesh Society for Change and Advocacy Nexus (BSCAN), said parties must recognize disability rights as a legal and constitutional obligation. If political parties are serious about inclusion, that seriousness must begin with their manifestos.”As campaigning intensifies, rights groups say the coming weeks will show whether political parties are willing to translate words into clear, enforceable commitments - or whether disability rights will once again be relegated to the margins of electoral politics.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 19, 2026 18:03 UTC