Bangladesh warns restaurants, hotels over lack of disability access

Dhaka: The government has directed restaurants, residential hotels, and cafés in Bangladesh’s city corporation areas to install wheelchair ramps and accessible toilets or risk losing their trade licenses.

The order was issued by the Local Government Division on May 14 following a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on disability rights and accessibility.

Authorities said, businesses failing to comply within a reasonable timeframe may face license cancellation or renewal suspension.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2021 survey, around 4.6 million people in the country live with some form of disability.

Rights advocates said, many restaurants and hotels remain inaccessible due to stairs, narrow entrances, and lack of usable washrooms, making everyday activities difficult for wheelchair users.

Officials said, city corporations will monitor accessibility measures during trade license issuance and renewal processes.