Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) activities on disability inclusion

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The Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) has been actively working towards its mission of promoting disability inclusion in the private sector. In the first half of the year, BBDN conducted several sensitisation sessions for business personnel, on-boarded employers as new BBDN members and organised recruitment drives for members who are currently hiring. Additionally, BBDN recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ILO’s Country Office for Bangladesh to establish a more strategic and collaborative approach to stakeholder engagement for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the skills and employment ecosystem.

Disability sensitisation sessions

One of the key activities of BBDN has been conducting sensitisation sessions with private sector leaders and senior-level employees. These sessions aim to enhance awareness and understanding of disability inclusion, enabling employers to create an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity. From January to June 2023, BBDN successfully organized sensitisation sessions with five businesses, including Mutual Trust Bank Foundation, Otto International Limited, Fakir Fashion Limited, and Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC).

Onboarding business in the network

BBDN is delighted to announce that Otto International Limited has joined the BBDN as a General Member. Otto International Limited recognises the importance of fostering a disability-inclusive workforce and has shown a strong commitment towards this cause.

Recruitment drive

Building on the success of previous recruitment drives, BBDN recently organised its third on-the-spot interview event at the request of TEAM Group, one of the founding members of BBDN. This event took place in March 2023. Forty-one job seekers with disabilities from various parts of the country participated in the spot interviews. Twenty-five individuals have been shortlisted for different positions, and more than ten of them have already joined the TEAM Group.

Partnership building with the country office of ILO

The ILO and the BBDN signed a MoU in a ceremony held on 23 March 2023, at Police Plaza. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from both organisations, including Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, the Country Director of the ILO Country Office for Bangladesh, and Mr. Ardashir Kabir, Chairman of BBDN. The document was signed by Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, representing the ILO, and Mr. Murteza Khan, representing BBDN, in the presence of other dignitaries and guests.