Digital Inclusion Drive for Persons with Disabilities in Rajshahi
A workshop was held on Tuesday, November 4, at the Rajshahi Department of Social Services to make digital services more accessible, inclusive, and effective for persons with disabilities. The event aimed to raise awareness about existing inclusive government digital services and identify the challenges and needs of differently-abled users to enhance their participation in digital platforms.
Participants discussed the need for technological support and capacity-building to ensure effective service delivery to persons with disabilities, especially in remote areas of the Rajshahi Division. Representatives from various government and non-government organizations took part in the workshop.
The program was jointly organized by Aspire to Innovate (a2i), the Center for Disability in Development (CDD), and CBM Global Disability Inclusion.
The event’s chief guest was Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Afia Akhter. Special guests included Professor Dr. Md. Rokonuzzaman, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Rajshahi University, and Md. Bayezid Hossain Warechi, Assistant Director of the District Social Services Office. The session was presided over by Md. Rashidul Mannaf Kabir, Joint Project Director (Joint Secretary) of a2i.
The program was moderated by Md. Nahid Alam, Head of the Center of Innovation Cluster at a2i, and accessibility consultant Bhaskar Bhattacharya, while the presentation was made by Anika Rahman Lipi, Assistant Director of CDD.
Participants conducted hands-on reviews of the accessibility of the National Portal, MyGov, and the national helpline 333. They also evaluated several private platforms, including mobile financial services, banking and telecom apps, job sites, and news portals, to identify common accessibility barriers and possible solutions.
Explaining the concept of digital accessibility, Md. Nahid Alam said, “Websites, tools, and technologies must be designed and developed in such a way that persons with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, interact with, and contribute to them.”
He added, “a2i has been continuously working to ensure digital accessibility in Bangladesh, and we are committed to transforming this effort into tangible results.”
Pledging her support for the initiative, Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter said, “Digital services truly become for everyone only when they are usable by everyone. From today, we will make accessibility a mandatory step in every service.”
In his closing remarks, Md. Rashidul Mannaf Kabir stated, “Small changes can remove big barriers. Addressing basic issues such as screen reader incompatibility, small fonts, and limited keyboard navigation can significantly enhance accessibility. It empowers users with disabilities while also benefiting elderly and new users.” He assured that a2i will provide necessary audit and training support to ensure accessibility in citizen-centric services.
To promote digital literacy and inclusion among persons with disabilities and strengthen community-based digital awareness, the event also featured the distribution of 50 smartphones among 10 self-help groups in Rajshahi City Corporation and Bagha Upazila.
Organizers expressed hope that the recommendations gathered from the workshop would play a vital role in future policymaking and service improvement initiatives.
DBTech/MRI/OR
