On 30 July 2026, Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN), BRAC Bank PLC, and Bonik Barta jointly organized a multi-stakeholder roundtable titled “Inclusive Employment for Persons with Disabilities in Bangladesh: From Policy to Implementation.” Held at the Bonik Barta office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, the discussion brought together policymakers, government officials, business representatives, development partners, legal experts, and disability inclusion practitioners to identify practical measures for advancing inclusive employment. The roundtable was attended by the State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin MP as the chief guest and Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf as the special guest.
The discussion identified four key barriers to inclusive employment: limited education and skills, inaccessible physical and digital infrastructure, weak implementation of existing laws, and poor inter-agency coordination. Participants called for stronger monitoring and enforcement, particularly through coordination between the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Labour.
A key recommendation was to align labour legislation with the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013, including provisions for Return-to-Work and alternative employment for workers who acquire disabilities. Participants also proposed incorporating disability rights and accessibility indicators into labour inspection checklists. Participants further called for accessible workplaces, reasonable accommodation, assistive technology, digital accessibility, and employment-oriented skills training.
The roundtable emphasized that disability-inclusive employment is a matter of rights and economic participation, not charity or CSR. It concluded with a call for coordinated action on law enforcement, accessibility, skills development, workplace retention, Return-to-Work mechanisms, and stronger collaboration among government, businesses, development partners, and organizations of persons with disabilities.
To read the full report, click BBDN Roundtable at Bonik Barta!