Hold awareness campaigns on facilities for people with disabilities at polling centres: DRW, TIB

Disability Rights Watch (DRW) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) have urged the government and the Election Commission to run effective publicity campaigns on measures to ensure the voting rights of persons with disabilities ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Speakers at a press conference held at TIB's auditorium today (5 February) said that although decisions have been taken to allow persons with disabilities to use their own vehicles on polling day, allow visually impaired voters to cast ballots with the assistance of guides, and set up special booths on the ground floor for physically challenged voters, a lack of adequate publicity has left many disabled voters unaware of these facilities.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, "The concept of a 'level playing field' in elections should not be limited to candidates alone but must also be ensured equally for voters.

"Ensuring an environment where persons with disabilities and marginalised voters can cast their votes according to their abilities is a moral and professional responsibility of the Election Commission, the administration, and the army," he added.

He noted that while some countries have provisions for collecting votes from persons with disabilities at their homes, ensuring a safe and barrier-free environment for them is an urgent necessity in Bangladesh. He also cautioned that election manifestos should not remain mere paper documents or symbolic slogans.

Recalling the active participation of persons with disabilities in the anti-discrimination movement, he said expectations from the new government include building an inclusive, discrimination-free, and accountable system of governance. He urged all political parties to take initiatives to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and called on the new government to formulate a specialised action plan for them.

Describing the lack of accessibility in government buildings as a violation of fundamental rights, he symbolically suggested keeping lifts closed for a week so that officials could better understand the hardships faced by persons with disabilities.

DRW Member Secretary Khandaker Zahurul Alam said, "The Election Commission had assured us that there would be ground-floor booths for voters with disabilities, access with wheelchairs, and arrangements for interpreters. However, we do not see any visible campaign by the government regarding the implementation of these decisions."

Speakers at the press conference said that due to a lack of information and publicity, concerns persist among persons with disabilities about whether they will be able to cast their votes smoothly at polling centres.

Md Abdullah, a speech- and hearing-impaired youth worker, said, "For persons with disabilities like us, the presence of assistants and interpreters makes it much easier to exercise our voting rights. But many lose interest in voting simply because they are unaware of these arrangements."

The speakers also demanded the introduction of postal ballots for persons with disabilities in future local government and other elections, saying voting rights for persons with disabilities cannot be ensured without inclusive management of the electoral process.

Country Director of Sightsavers Bangladesh Amrita Rejina Rozario said, "A supportive environment must be ensured so that registered voters with disabilities can cast their votes without obstacles.

"Not only during elections, but also afterwards, there should be space in parliament to raise issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities," she added.

The speakers further stressed the need for extensive publicity through the media, social media, local administration, and field-level officials regarding the facilities adopted by the Election Commission, saying this would increase confidence among voters with disabilities and boost their participation in the voting process.

DRW President Mansur Ahmed Chowdhury said the assurances given regarding persons with disabilities must be implemented, noting that there has been no visible progress so far.

"The number of persons with disabilities is increasing, and surveys show around 15% of the country's population lives with disabilities," he added.