A wheelchair that helps the paralysed stand, now made in Bangladesh
Standing wheelchairs have been used in Bangladesh before, but they were imported. Shovon became the first person to manufacture one in the country using locally available materials
At the age of five, Meem fell from a rickshaw and fractured her spine. Since then, she has forgotten what it feels like to stand upright. A wheelchair became her constant companion.
Since the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Savar was close to her home, she was able to continue her therapy regularly. At one point, she enrolled in school, but had to use her wheelchair for movement.
But in 2024, while Meem was in the ninth grade, a standing wheelchair changed her life. It allowed her to stand again for the first time since childhood.
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Standing wheelchairs had been used in Bangladesh before, but they were imported.
Shovon Parvez, a rehabilitation engineer, became the first person to manufacture one in the country using locally available materials.
He began researching wheelchairs in 2023, during his third year at university. Growing up in Kushtia, his interest in electronics began early while he was still in school, as he spent his time experimenting with motors, receivers and other equipment rather than studying. Though Shovon's grades suffered, and he was often punished, his passion for electronics never faded.
After completing his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Shovon enrolled in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Daffodil University in 2020. He also joined the university's Robotics Club and became its president in his final year.
Then came a turning point. Impressed by his dedication to robotics, Shovon was recruited to the research team at the university's robotics laboratory.
"Our local technicians generally do not want to work with foreign machines because the components are unfamiliar to them, and spare parts are not readily available. That is why it took me a year and a half to develop the first prototype. Most of that time was spent adapting the wheelchair to local conditions."
"It is not always easy. A project often requires the help of local laser operators or lathe workers. They may not understand measurements in millimetres; they work in threads and may not understand CAD designs. They often say, 'Draw it for me.'
"I am not blaming the workers," he continued. "Rather, we should avoid being overly ambitious. When developing an idea, we should first consider whether it can actually be implemented, taking into account the availability of materials, the skills of local workers and other practical factors."
Designing for each individual's needs
While living near Daffodil University's Birulia campus, Shovon spent his spare time designing a hybrid car, one of his dream projects. He also made its parts by himself.
Seeing his work on LinkedIn, Dr Manzurul Alam, an Australia-based rehabilitation and biomedical researcher, asked him to come to CRP.
"I was impressed by the car you are building. But I would be even happier if you could use your talent and skills to help our patients," Dr Alam said upon meeting Shovon.
That was when Dr Alam told him about standing wheelchairs. He said, "It may seem like a small innovation, but its impact could be enormous. This device can change the life of a person living with paralysis. It can help them lead a life with dignity."
Dr Alam further explained, "Wheelchairs are bought and sold in the market like any other product. But a wheelchair is actually a health device. Its design should be tailored to each person's physical structure. And since imported wheelchairs are very expensive, very few people can afford them. If you can develop an affordable standing wheelchair, many people could benefit from it."
Research showed that prolonged sitting can weaken the lower limbs and cause potentially life-threatening pressure sores. A standing wheelchair can help users perform everyday tasks, maintain limb function, and participate more confidently in social life.
Shovon quickly began researching standing wheelchairs, studying foreign models online before designing his own using locally available materials.
Dr Alam provided the funding. He also helped establish a laboratory covering the entire floor of Shovon's house.
Shovon said, "Our local technicians generally do not want to work with foreign machines because the components are unfamiliar to them, and spare parts are not readily available. That is why it took me a year and a half to develop the first prototype. Most of that time was spent adapting the wheelchair to local conditions."
Made in Bangladesh, for Bangladesh
Clinical physiotherapy consultant Farzana Touhida Chandni had been involved in the project from the start. After CRP's Human Research Ethics Committee approved the project, she selected Meem as the first user. A team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists assessed Meem's physical measurements and social needs, and added a small table to the wheelchair for her use at school.
Shovon explained that the wheelchair was developed using a slider-crank mechanism, a simple mechanical engineering system. In this mechanism, rotary motion is converted into linear motion.
Using Meem as the first user, they continued testing the wheelchair's effectiveness. Every week, they listened to her experiences at school and at home and documented the limitations she encountered. They then returned to the laboratory and tried to address those limitations through further modifications.
One day, they even paid Meem a surprise visit at school. They watched as the teacher entered the classroom, and along with the other students, Meem used the wheelchair's mechanism to slide into an upright position.
"We were very happy to see that," Shovon recalled.
After six months of this process, they were finally able to develop the final prototype.
Another incident inspired Shovon. It involved Yusuf Ali Beg, who had been using a wheelchair for 23 years. He had never imagined that he would be able to stand and take a photograph. After receiving the standing wheelchair, however, he developed an interest in standing again.
He stood beside his wife for a photograph and, overjoyed, posted it on Facebook in English: "Using a power standing wheelchair built by Shovon, a rehabilitation engineer at CRP, I stood up for the third time in my 23-year wheelchair journey… Only someone who has lived this life truly understands how essential a multipurpose wheelchair is for a user. I sincerely wish the young engineer Shovon continued success and growth in his inspiring work."
Shovon said, "One of the chair's major features is its affordable price and ease of maintenance. An imported standing wheelchair costs around Tk350,000, whereas our chair costs Tk35,000–40,000. Its technical design is also open source, so that other low-income countries can manufacture it if necessary.
"The technology used in imported wheelchairs is kept hidden, and their spare parts are available only in the countries where they are manufactured. In contrast, the components of our wheelchair are readily available locally; they can either be manufactured locally or replaced easily," Shovon said.
A wider vision for mobility
In November 2025, a PubMed article documented Shovon's low-cost manual standing wheelchair, developed as an affordable alternative to expensive imported models. The researchers observed 30 people with paralysis over nine months and found that users felt safe, found the chair easier to operate, and reported greater confidence and participation in household and social activities.
Shovon is also working on a foot-controlled wheelchair. Poppy Taylor, the younger daughter of CRP founder Valerie Ann Taylor, has a condition that causes constant spasms in her limbs. Only the big toe of her right foot remains stable. Shovon is researching how Poppy can operate a wheelchair using this single toe.
He has already developed the third model of the wheelchair. It is still in the development phase, but Poppy's mobility is gradually improving. Once the wheelchair is completed, it could help improve mobility for many others like Poppy.
Shovon is also working on knee joints, accessible-vehicle wheelchairs, and automatic therapy beds. He is a rehabilitation engineer at CRP. He is also in charge of CRP's Assistive Device Fabrication Workshop in Ganakbari, Sreepur.
Shovon is currently pursuing a master's in Applied Physics at Jahangirnagar University. He feels fortunate to serve humanity as a rehabilitation engineer. Seeing people stand with his devices or move more easily gives him a deep sense of fulfilment.
However, he is concerned that he may not receive the necessary opportunities and facilities to continue his work in Bangladesh. If that happens, he says, he may have to look for work abroad.
