BRAC Bank, jointly with the Bangladesh Business and Disability Network, hosted ‘EmpowerAbility 2025’ to accelerate disability-inclusive employment, policy action and corporate accountability in Bangladesh.
More than 50 organisations, government officials, development partners and business leaders gathered at the event at the Le Méridien hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, according to a media release.
The conference, backed by the International Labour Organization and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit under BRAC Bank’s flagship initiative ‘Aporajeyo Ami’, focused on turning discussions into measurable workplace inclusion, recruitment reform and corporate pledges, organisers said.
The event was attended by Ministry of Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain as the chief guest, Labour Secretary Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan and BRAC Bank Managing Director and CEO Tareq Refat Ullah Khan among others.
BBDN Board of Trustees Chairman Ardashir Kabir, ILO Global Business and Disability Network Disability Inclusion Specialist Jürgen Menze and GIZ Bangladesh Country Director Juergen Schilling also spoke at the forum.
A major outcome was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding between BBDN and the BGMEA and BKMEA, aiming to expand disability-inclusive hiring, accessible factory environments and industry-wide sensitisation across Bangladesh’s garment sector — the country’s largest employer.
Three panel sessions examined inclusive recruitment models, workplace accessibility and policy alignment, featuring experts from Berger Paints, Le Méridien, the Department of Social Services and Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation.
“Inclusion is not charity; it is the foundation of a sustainable economy,” said BRAC Bank CEO Tareq Refat Ullah Khan. “Through Aporajeyo Ami, BRAC Bank is building bridges between business and social good, proving that empowering every ability empowers the nation itself,” he added.
BBDN Chairman Ardashir Kabir said the private sector must shift from plans to practice. “The private sector must move from intent to implementation. BBDN will continue working hand in hand with industry leaders to make disability inclusion integral to business strategy in Bangladesh,” he said.
Labour Secretary Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan said policy support and enforcement would remain central to the government’s agenda. “These partnerships are critical to achieving a society where no one is left behind,” he added.
Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hussain said inclusion is rooted in social equity. “Inclusion is a matter of justice… we must empower every citizen to contribute fully. Together, we can build a nation that recognises and values every individual’s ability,” he said.
Companies including BRAC, Shin Shin Group, Grameenphone, ACI Logistics, Bata, Akij Group, UNDP, Save the Children, Mutual Trust Bank, Prime Bank and Eastern Bank participated, reinforcing a collective push toward structured, scalable inclusion in Bangladesh’s workforce.
The summit closed with a call for stronger cross-sector partnerships, enforceable inclusion policies and expanded employment pathways for persons with disabilities across industries.
