Physically-Challenged Development Foundation (PDF) was organised a panel discussion titled “Breaking Barriers: Accessible Political Engagement for Youth with Disabilities” at Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University on Saturday.
Representatives of different student political parties took the panelist chairs of the discussion. More than 100 students with and without disabilities attended the panel discussion where they expressed their experiences, challenges, and expectations from the political parties.
The panelists were: Deputy Autism Secretary of Bangladesh Student League Anwarul Kabir Dipu, Central President of Samajtantrik Chatro Front Salman Siddique, Member Secretary of Student Federation DU unit Umama Fatema, Member Secretary of the newly formed Democratic Student Force Nahid Islam, former elected member of DUCSU Joshiah Sangma Chibal.
Students with disabilities shared what challenges they face in participating or dreaming of joining politics, leading political platforms, holding an office, or vying for an office in local or national elections. Moreover, students with visual impairments reported that the voting system is not inclusive of them and reported that their votes are cast by others.
Panelists and participants pointed out that the symbolic representation is not useful for inclusion of persons with disabilities. It is very imperative that we really focus on the inclusion from decision making and empowerment perspective. Students with disabilities told that many of them are afraid of joining politics because of the existing political culture where violence, physical assaults, use of muscular power take place frequently.
All the panelists from different political parties mentioned the already taken measures and adopted cultures by their parties. They expressed their commitment to ensure accessibility and inclusion within their political parties and political practices.
Last Friday, a workshop was organized prior to the panel discussion with 35 students with disabilities from different universities and colleges of Dhaka. Different sessions on disability rights, leadership skills, communication skills, and democracy for inclusion were conducted by various experts and leaders.
The panel discussion and workshop are organized as part of The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Award-winning project “Promoting political participation of youth with disabilities.” Md. Nazmus Sakib, Team Lead of PDF YouthNet, won this project in 2023 as an IVLP alumnus. Nazmus Sakib said “We had an interactive and effective discussion with different representatives of student political parties. I am very optimistic that the changes that we desire will take place in our political culture and persons with diverse disabilities will contribute to ensure accessibility and inclusion through their participation in politics.”
