Rights activists at an event have called for taking necessary steps to ensure equal access to digital services for all, including persons with disabilities, for the sake of the national economy.
They observed that digital accessibility is not only a matter of social justice or human rights; it is also an economic investment. By removing digital barriers, Bangladesh can bring more people into education, employment, entrepreneurship, and the wider digital economy, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
They made the observations while addressing a policy dialogue titled ‘Digital Rights, Democracy, and E-Governance-Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities’ at The Daily Star Centre in the capital, jointly organized by Songjog Foundation and supported by DDI South Asia.
The dialogue highlighted that Bangladesh ranks 100th among 193 countries on the UN E-Government Development Index but 108th among 137 countries on digital accessibility. A bilingual survey of 167 verified respondents with disabilities revealed that 61% find government websites difficult to use with assistive technology, and 48% face barriers in mobile and online banking.
Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Transparency International Bangladesh, attended as the chief guest, while Ahmed Javed Jamal, Founder and General Secretary of Songjog Foundation, chaired the event. Vashkar Bhattacharjee, National Consultant-Accessibility at a2i, and Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director of Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation, also spoke.