Bangladesh plans one-stop disability service centers across 10 districts

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh’s government is preparing to launch pilot one-stop service centers for people with disabilities in 10 districts or sub-districts, bringing healthcare, education, rehabilitation and employment support together under one roof as part of a broader effort to improve accessibility and social inclusion.

The initiative was announced on Thursday by State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin following a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Implementation Committee on the Protection of the Rights and Services of Persons with Disabilities. The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among government agencies responsible for disability services.

According to Sharmin, the pilot centers will provide a wide range of services from a single location, including healthcare, mental health support, education, rehabilitation, skills development, employment assistance and legal aid. The goal is to reduce the need for people with disabilities and their families to visit multiple government offices to access essential support.

The centers will also offer vocational training, help market products made by people with disabilities and create income-generating opportunities for their guardians. The government is additionally planning to establish specialized training centers to prepare professionals who can deliver disability-related services across the country.

Sharmin said parents and guardians who stay at the centers for extended periods while accompanying children with disabilities would also receive opportunities to participate in income-generating activities.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare M A Muhit, who chaired the meeting, said the government has formed two national-level committees to strengthen implementation of disability rights and improve coordination between ministries.

Muhit said the Health Ministry has already begun providing healthcare services to around 1,000 children with disabilities under the Shishuswarga program in the Korail informal settlement in Dhaka.

The initiative is expected to expand to between 20 and 25 upazilas, or sub-districts, during the current fiscal year, with a focus on early identification of children with disabilities, community-based screening, treatment and referral services.

He said authorities also plan to maintain individual records for every child receiving support to improve long-term rehabilitation, employment assistance and coordination between the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Social Welfare and other relevant agencies.

Beyond healthcare, the government plans to make public infrastructure more accessible. Muhit said disability-friendly design standards will become mandatory for future government buildings and infrastructure projects, with accessibility included as a key criterion in project approvals.

Under the proposal, new public buildings will be required to include ramps, suitable elevators and at least one wheelchair-accessible restroom. The government is also working to improve accessibility in schools and colleges and has recommended that future electric buses be designed to accommodate wheelchair users.

Muhit added that the Ministry of Youth and Sports is planning dedicated facilities for athletes with disabilities in new sports infrastructure projects while continuing financial incentives and official recognition for successful competitors in the Special Olympics and Paralympic Games.