ddrc – Disability Bangladesh

July 25, 2019

Advocacy Conferences with Legal Professionals in Chittagong

A lawyer in black suit stands and reads from a paper at a seminar where participants are gathered around a round table in a well-lit room. — *A Chittagong district legal aid committee panel lawyer stands to discuss the DRPA at DDRC’s July 24, 2019 seminar for lawyers held at the Chittagong District Court building.*

On July 23 and 24, 2019 DDRC organized a seminar for lawyers and a seminar for judges, respectively. The judges’ seminar was presided over by Chittagong District Judge Munsy Abdul Majid, who agreed that judges should pay special attention to whether persons with disabilities involved in the justice system receive adequate legal representation and reasonable accommodations in accordance with their Constitutional rights and those recognized by the DRPA. He emphasized the need for judges to take the initiative in their courtrooms to ensure that persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities’ rights are upheld in criminal proceedings. The seminar for lawyers was presided over by the district legal aid officer and Senior Assistant Judge Farhana Yeasmin and 20 DLAC panel lawyers attended.

Twenty people seated around a round table in a seminar room watching a video being projected on mounted TV screen. — DDRC uses the Bangla Sign Language informational videos developed by EPD to explain the main components of the DRPA at its July 23, 2019 seminar for judges held at the Chittagong District Court building.

April 19, 2019

Legal Aid Camps in Barishal and Chittagong

A lawyer dressed in a traditional black blazer and white collared shirt sits at a table covered with educational materials in a brightly colored tent and listens to a woman seated across the table. — *Rejaul Karim Siddiquee, BlueLaw International's EPD In-Country Coordinator, receives a client at a legal aid camp organized by Bangladesh Protibandhi Unayan Sangstha (BPUS) on April 18, 2019.*

On April 18, 2019, Bangladesh Protibandhi Unayan Sangstha (BPUS) organized a legal aid camp to identify prospective Section 36 applicants. The camp attracted 157 participants, many of whom learned about the DRPA for the first time. Fourteen requests for legal aid were processed for follow-up action by both BPUS and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust's (BLAST) Barishal Unit Office.

Ms. Abida Azad (center), Councilor of the Chittagong City Corporation, inaugurates Disabled Development and Resource Centre's (DDRC) legal aid camp on April 25, 2019, alongside Shazzad Islam (seated), DDRC's Executive Director, members of DDRC. Sarah Iqbal and Habiba Akter (first and second from L) of USAID also attended the event.

On April 25, 2019, Disabled Development and Resource Centre (DDRC) organized a legal aid camp to identify prospective Section 36 applicants. The camp was inaugurated by Ms. Abida Azad, Councilor of the Chittagong City Corporation, and attracted 176 participants. Twenty-two requests for legal aid were processed for follow-up action by both DDRC and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust's (BLAST) Chittagong Unit Office.

December 3, 2018

First Section 36 Application in Brahmanbaria

On December 2, 2018, Disabled Development and Research Center (DDRC), one of the 7 small grantee DPOs under USAID's Expanding Participation of People with Disability Program (EPD), filed the first-ever recorded complaint under Section 36 of the DRPA in the District Social Welfare Office of Brahmanbaria. Presented by DDRC’s Advocacy and Training Officer, Nurunnahar, the complaint was filed with the assistance of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) on behalf of a young woman named Sadia Akter who alleged being excluded from sitting for an examination because of her disability in violation of DRPA Sections 16(1)(ja) and (Da).