Desk Report:
State Minister for Health Dr. MA Muhith said that the government does not view the rights and services of the disabled as a charity, but as a constitutional and civil right. Work is underway on a coordinated action plan of various ministries to ensure that every disabled person can enjoy equal rights like all other ordinary citizens. Identification and healthcare activities for disabled children have already been inaugurated in the Karail slum of Dhaka. In addition, comprehensive medical services for disabled children and people will be ensured in the Upazila Health Complexes through the ‘Child’s Paradise’ project in 22 upazilas of 22 districts of the country under the Ministry of Health.
The State Minister for Health said these things at the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Implementation Committee on Protection of Disabled Rights and Services at the conference room of the Ministry of Health on Thursday (August 20, 2026) afternoon. State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin Putul also spoke.
The State Minister for Health said that as a result of the coordinated efforts of various ministries, several progress has already been made. A 25 percent discount on fares has been ensured for disabled people in any class of Bangladesh Railway and in the Metrorail. In addition, instructions have been given to ensure disabled-friendly infrastructure in all newly constructed stations. Discussions were held on ensuring that not only the ramps for travel, but also the entire journey, from ticketing to boarding the vehicle and using the toilet, is seamless and accessible for the disabled.
In the field of education, State Minister for Health Dr. Muhith emphasized the participation of disabled children in the mainstream education system along with specialized schools, said that specialized schools under the Ministry of Social Welfare are being better organized so that children from remote areas also get the opportunity to study. At the same time, general schools are also being made disability-friendly in coordination with the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. So that no child using a wheelchair is deprived of regular schools. Work is also underway to ensure the necessary reforms in the curriculum, the use of Braille and sign language.
Stating that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has undertaken several disability-friendly projects in the new fiscal year budget, the State Minister for Health said, “Identification and healthcare activities for disabled children in Dhaka’s Karail slum have already been inaugurated. In addition, comprehensive medical services for disabled children and people will be ensured in Upazila Health Complexes in 22 upazilas of 22 districts of the country through the ‘Shishu Swarg’ project under the Ministry of Health.”
The State Minister for Social Welfare said in the meeting that in addition to physical structures, the State Minister for Social Welfare also said that in the era of information technology, accessibility of disabled people is also being ensured on digital platforms. Every disabled person has some special talent or skill, and the main goal of the government is to build a humane and prosperous Bangladesh by utilizing that skill. He called on each ministry to work with utmost sincerity in this regard.
