Bangladesh is a sovereign republic known as the People's Republic of Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in 1971. It is situated in the eastern part of South Asian sub- continent. The country is bordered by India on the east, west and north, and by the Bay of Bengal and a small border strip with Myanmar on the south -east.
A third world country with more than 130 million people in an area of 1,47,570 Sq Km, Bangladesh, is still under the grip of numerous problems that stands as barriers towards it's fight for development. Poverty, lack of desired level of education, low health standard, poor employment rate etc. are some of the many challenges for the nation. The country had been encountering these insurmountable obstacles with limited resources. Even though people with disabilities represent a considerable percentage of the country's population, limited resources and interventions were available both from the Government and Non-governmental sectors. The state of disability is still struggling for inclusion in the field of development. It is still recognized more as an issue of welfare and charity, and hardly a crosscutting development issue.
The focus of the country on developmental issues are mainly prioritised around health, education, skill development, employment, environment, etc. A notable progress has been made in the country in recent years in the sector of Information Communication Technology (ICT), which has created a positive impact on overall socio-economic development of the people and the country.
The ICT intervention has not yet addressed the needs of person with disabilities other than a very few initiatives. The government and some of the NGOs are currently in process of introducing appropriate technology and devices to create access of visually impaired persons to ICT.
Link to TopWith the application of information technology, dissemination and capacity to integrate and absorb human knowledge have grown immensely. The Internet and related technology, ICT, have facilitated information and knowledge to flow across the geographical boundaries of the countries and have made it accessible to people at minimal cost. With the advancement of ICT, now-a-days knowledge assumes the role of factor of production, in addition to capital, land, labor and management contribute tremendously towards economic development of a country. Data, information, knowledge and action are correlated. Data become information through context and information become knowledge through networking. The transformation of tacit and implicit knowledge into explicit knowledge form is critical for exploring knowledge potentials of an organization. Knowledge resides in tacit, implicit and explicit form and ICT plays a pivotal role in harnessing and disseminating knowledge for development and empowerment of people.
The existence of Internet services in Bangladesh is not a phenomenon for a longer period. Internet was initiated in the country with UUCP email in the beginning of 1993 while the IP connectivity was in 1996.
Internet and Data Network have mostly created a Nationwide coverage throughout the country. A variety of data network are slowly emerging, Digital switches capable of services have been installed nationwide and various organizations have, or are in the process of installing local area network,
Transmission System is mainly composed of microwave, UHF and VHF radio links of which major links are star formation network structure. Use of optical fiber is presently limited within some city areas connecting local exchange.
Recently a demonstration of an ICT transcription device for the visually impaired people was made in the capital city organized by the National Forum of Organization working with the Disabled in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Welfare and demonstrated by the Wavel Mediatronics Ltd of India. This has created a good impact to both government and non-government sector to initiate such devices to promote access to visually impaired people to ICT. The Ministry of Science and Technology has expressed interest to initiate and disseminate the device in possible context. A good number of international and national non-government agencies have initiated process of using such ICT option for visually impaired person in their respective context.,
A national level non-government agency is providing a very limited training services to few visually impaired persons on JAWS for Windows software applications. With its internal software speech synthesizer and the computer's sound card, information from the screen is read aloud providing technology to access a wide variety of information, education and job related applications.
Link to TopSatellite Earth Station has been established and in operation in the country since 1975. International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) facilities are available in most of the sub-district. Satellite earth station along with an International Trunk Exchange (ITX) was commissioned and established. Mobile communication services have also been established for ships and aircrafts. Communication has been established through geostationary satellite.
Digital Data Network (DDN) has been established in Dhaka and three other major cities and plans have been made to extend DNN for all of the 64 districts in the country.
An X.25 Packet Switched Data Network (PSDN) has been established in Dhaka and five other cities. Inter-city connectivity has been made through microwave link. The cable TV network is being considered as a future option of data transfer.
Internet Service Providers are in existence since 1996.The current connection charge is as low as 50 paisa per minute. About 80% of the use of internet services are concerned with email service. Internet Service Providers are mainly based in the capital city with some expansion in few big cities. The total number of estimated IPS user is approx.320,000.
The telephone communication in the country is developing fast. Although the number is inadequate considering the population, presently there are approx. 800,000 land telephone connections and over 12,00,000 Cellular telephone users in the country. The National ICT plan for the year 2003-2004 has reflected extension of 500,000 land telephone and 10,00,000 cellular connection during the year. Plan has been made to extent Internet services to all thana (Sub-district) in the country. Besides, 128 computer lab will be established in 64 district to promote and accelerate the use of Internet services.
Link to TopThe ICT policy of Bangladesh aims at building an ICT-driven nation comprising of knowledge-based society. With this end in view, it is envisaged to develop a country-wide ICT infrastructure to ensure access to information by all citizen, including the PWDs, for sustainable economic development using all sorts of on-line ICT enabled sources.
Goal/objectiveIn order to give a thrust to the ICT sector and expeditious development of Software industry and its export-required infrastructure facilities and legal framework will be created.
For providing effective incentives for development of ICT sector to both local and foreign entrepreneurs incentives may be given to the local and foreign entrepreneurs in the following form :
Develop an efficient ICT infrastructure that provides open access to international and national network;
Promote and facilitate use of ICT in all sectors of the economy for transparency,
Establish legislative and regulatory framework for ICT issues like IPR, data security and protection, digital signature, e-Commerce, ICT education etc. as well as to ensure quality ICT education provided by different private organizations
Set up national databases that are reliable and easily accessible to all the people of the country;
Promote use of ICT by providing special allocations for ICT project implementation in the public sector. Train the decision makers in ICT use and promote a ICT culture;
Develop a large pool of world class ICT professionals to meet the needs for local and global markets;
Set up a very high quality ICT institution to continuously promote and foster ICT Industry;
Enact Laws and Regulations for uninterrupted growth of ICT, in conformity with World Trade Organization (WTO) stipulations.
Strategy/actionGovernment of Bangladesh (GOB), has undertaken a number of steps for ICT infrastructure development which are as follows.
While having birth of a baby with disability, the family along with relatives even neighbors falls into embarrassment with fear of blameworthy. The prevailing superstition lead them feel inferiority which results into negative attitude to the disabled child.
The prevalence of the rate of disability appears to be relatively high in comparison to other country although there is no reliable statistics. This is because of over population, extreme poverty situation, malnutrition, lack of proper health and medi-care services, and over and above the lack of awareness of the people on disability concerned issues. Bangladesh considers the prevalence rate at 10% of the total population as estimated by WHO. The GOB surveys in 1982, 1996 and 1998 estimated the national prevalence rate of disabled people at 0.64, 0.5, and 1.6 respectively. The disability survey findings of specific geographical areas of the country conducted by few non-government agencies reflect prevalence rate ranging from 7.8% to 18%.
Regarding blindness, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey of 1996 reflect that 0.48 per 1,000 have blindness in the country. Other national survey data also depict prevalence of Iodine deficiency disorders in school children as 69% (1993), prevalence of anemia in adult women 74% (1981 - 1982), prevalence of anemia in children under five 73% (1981 - 1982) and prevalence of vitamin A deficiency disorders 1.78% (1993). These data reflect some statistics, but it is anticipated that the actual situation would be much more intensified than what is reflected through the data.
It is estimated that 1.6 million children with disabilities are in school age of which less then 20,000 have access to school education. 8% of the children with disabilities are currently enrolled in some form of educational set up.
The Government has a Braille press and a policy to provide free primary level books in Braille to children with visual impairments. But in practice the available books are far short of requirements.
Poverty and disability reinforce each other contributing to increased vulnerability and exclusion. Access to economic scopes for people with disability is very scarce. After attaining education, persons with disability have to encounter many barriers in their efforts to find income opportunities. Many employers deny them the access to jobs. Lack of practical experience and vocational skills are also obstructing their access into income generation scopes. Access is also denied in the business sectors.
Inaccessible built environment is one of the vital factors for exclusion of disabled people for integration and inclusion in every sphere of life. Accessibility of disabled person demands consideration of mobility and ability built environment etc.
The Government had declared 10% quota for people with disabilities along with the orphans in Government jobs. But this was not adequately practiced in majority of the recruitment's for so many reasons stated earlier. In recent development the Government has emphasized on establishing the quota in all possible Government recruitment's. A recent study in some selected areas reflects that most of the people with disabilities have some form of special skills related to employment.
Link to TopFusion of forces becomes imperative when the issue to be addressed is huge and when one force needs to be supplemented by the other. The issue of disability is one such. It is relatively a new issue that the development practitioners have recently focused on. Interventions are essential to address and minimize the negative effects of disability issues.
The government and NGO forces are fused and tagged together in many aspect of disability intervention in the country. Government as the sole authoritative body of the nation had positive role in policies and legislation issues and also facilitates coordinated and comprehensive program interventions in partnership with the NGOs.
The Government of Bangladesh in 1995 had formulated a national policy for People with Disabilities. The policy outlined guidelines and projections for promotion of services for people with disabilities.
With a view to protect the rights of people with disabilities, the government of Bangladesh has enacted disability legislation (The Disability Welfare Act 2001).
A directory of organizations on disability issues has been developed in collaboration with NGOs and Ministry of Social Welfare and initiatives have also been taken to update the directory annually.
This was the first time the information on disability had been incorporated in the national census tools.
The specific area of disability issues on a regular basis produces periodical journals and documents by NGOs in collaboration with government. This will help individuals and agency concerned to access required information and conceptual clarity.
A good number of NGOs have been regularly publishing issue based communication material for National sensitisations and advocacy initiatives. Sensitisation materials in Video form has been developed by few agencies and regularly telecast in national and private television channels and also on satellite network.
The Newspapers of the country is being motivated to cover on different news items related to national and international disability affairs.
In recent years, Bangladesh has gained substantial achievements in promoting and encouraging agencies/organizations that are directly involved in public awareness activities. The government encourages the role and initiatives taken by the NGOs, private sectors that address their needs and concerns to facilitate integration of disabled persons into the mainstream of the society.
Government has approved a Building Construction Code incorporating the accessibility of PWDs (disability-related facilities).
In recent development, the Honorable Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has announced a long and short term action target which includes along with others creating options of reserve seats for people with disabilities in trains, river transports, buses etc, provisions for separate ticket counter and discount for people with disabilities for such transports etc, The circular also includes creating accessibilities in public infrastructure with particular focus on putting ramp in government buildings.
Agencies working for people with disabilities are implementing varieties of educational programs depending on the needs and requirements as well as types and intensity of disability which include, special education, integrated education, inclusive education program etc but the coverage is still inadequate considering the requirement. The Department of Social Services is implementing integrated education centre for the visually impaired students in each districts in the country. A few number of special centre for education of hearing impaired children are also implemented by the government and few NGOs. Department of Special Education in Dhaka University also offers honours and Master course on special education, the National Center Special Education run by the Ministry of Social Welfare also offers B.S.Ed Degree.
Among the agencies providing training, some provide training on identification, prevention, treatment / rehabilitation of PWDs. Government has established two vocational training centres and a National Blind Training and Rehabilitation Centers for PWDs.. Other NGOs in the country are concerned about human resource development of the organizations working for the disabled.
The Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approach is gradually getting wider acceptance and coverage in the recent years. A good number of NGOs are now implementing different programs and projects following this approach across the country.
The significant areas of development is the inclusion of disability issues in mainstream community development programs of NGOs in Bangladesh. Over 300 development organizations have included disability intervention in their existing development program component. Rehabilitation is one of the priority disability intervention which includes identification, primary rehabilitation therapy services, referral services for advance medical rehabilitation therapy, inclusion in community groups and micro-credit for economic rehabilitation etc. The number and strengths of organizations involve in therapeutic services are increasing in the country as the need for such services are increasing gradually.
Link to TopWorldwide interventions on disability issues have been expanding at a rapid pace in recent years. But in comparison, the situation in developing countries is much behind. The development in Bangladesh on the issue over the last few years, has created an environment collaborative efforts and resource generation among the Government and the NGO sectors to address the issues of disability. There had been some progress undoubtedly, but its extent is still inadequate in comparison to the population of people with disabilities and the magnitude of the problems and demands on these issues. Bangladesh has been able to initiate work on many areas and there are still many more that need to be addressed. The issues of Information Communication Technology for the people with disability is the area in which intensive effort needs to initiated as there had been very limited efforts so far made. It would require a lot more inputs and resources from national and international sources with effective and efficient policies, strategies, programs and action plans on ICT to change the quality of life of people with disabilities particularly the visually impaired persons in the country. Different actors and players including people with disabilities, their families and the communities need to be involved in all areas from primary to tertiary sectors in the country's effort to jointly build a better nation for all including people with disabilities. One of the greatest strength that has been achieved facilitating the progress is the strong commitment of the nation and the collaboration of the Government and the NGOs to work in partnership and togetherness towards equalization.
(Country Paper Presented in the Regional Workshop on WEb-Based Networking from 21 July-1 August-2003 at Bankok,Thailand arranged by APCD wirh the collaboration of JICA)
Md. Abu Baker Siddique,Research and Publication Officer, Department of Social Services Dhaka-, Bangladesh.
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