Dr. Rowshon Ara Romke, Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Science, presented her research findings on 16 January 2025 regarding the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in local government in Bangladesh. Funded by the AIUB Grant, her study, titled Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Local Government of Bangladesh: Prospects and Problems, aimed to identify barriers to PWD participation in governance.
The presentation, reviewed by the Faculty Research Committee (FRC) led by Prof. Dr. Tazul Islam, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), highlighted key findings from Dr. Romke’s mixed-method research approach. These included limited opportunities for PWDs to engage in local governance, societal stigma, and inadequate legal frameworks. Additionally, local government officials often lack awareness of disability rights. Dr. Romke recommended inclusive legislation, quotas, and heightened awareness to ensure the meaningful inclusion of PWDs, promoting a more equitable and participatory governance system in line with Sustainable Development Goal 10.
Members of FRC, FASS and experts provided constructive feedback on the improvement and prospects of the projects. The event was organized by Dr. Md Asif Kamal, FASS Representative in Office of Research (OR) in collaboration with FRC and OR.