Dhaka : BRAC Bank, Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN), and The Business Standard (TBS) joined forces to host an inspiring roundtable, “Data Matters: Numbers and Evidence are Key to a Disability-Inclusive Society.”
This discussion comes at a crucial time, when the Bangladesh government is placing greater emphasis on disability-inclusive development and seeks accurate data for policy decisions. The roundtable highlighted why evidence-based approaches are vital for advancing disability rights and inclusion, a press release said.
TBS sparked a lively discussion on 20 May 2026 as part of BRAC Bank’s CSR Programme, ‘Aporajeyo Ami’, designed to inspire meaningful conversations and champion disability inclusion.
Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank, said, “BRAC Bank’s founder, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, always believed that the people of Bangladesh never lacked talent — they lacked opportunities. That belief is in our DNA. It drives us to break down barriers, create access, and ensure that no one is excluded from the chance to realise their potential. Disability inclusion is not a peripheral agenda for us — it is one we are committed to scaling with the same conviction.”
“Without reliable data, our policies rest on shaky assumptions. It’s time to transform insights into solid evidence,” he added.
The roundtable drew rich contributions from policymakers, regulators, development partners, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), researchers, and private sector leaders. Together, they exchanged insightful perspectives on the necessity of trustworthy disability data and evidence-driven policymaking for a more inclusive Bangladesh.
Participants at the roundtable committed to immediately establishing a diverse task force to improve how organisations collect disability data. They also pledged to regularly share data between public and private sectors and to submit practical recommendations for including disability data in future national policies.
Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Department of Social Services, Bangladesh Bank, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Access Bangladesh Foundation, SWID Bangladesh, the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), BRAC Bank, and BBDN.
Speakers emphasised that accurate and detailed disability data plays a crucial role in enabling inclusive jobs, financial access, accessible services, and effective social protection. They also called for stronger teamwork among the government, private sector, development organisations, and OPDs to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in national development.
