BRAC Bank, in partnership with the Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN), hosted a seminar titled “EmpowerAbility 2025: Powering Every Ability” to advance Bangladesh’s shift towards inclusive growth for people with disabilities. The event was graced by Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who emphasized the importance of inclusivity in society and the removal of barriers to enable full participation for all citizens. The seminar aimed to move beyond discussions and drive tangible actions by fostering collaborations among policymakers, business executives, and development partners to promote inclusive policies, corporate initiatives, and diverse employment practices.
With the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the seminar highlighted the significance of partnerships across different sectors in creating fair opportunities for everyone. Over 50 organizations, including BRAC, Shin Shin Group, Team Group, ACI Logistics, Brand Forum, Bata, Sajida Foundation, Grameenphone, Akij Group, Mutual Trust Bank, Prime Bank, Eastern Bank, UNDP, and Save the Children, participated in the event, representing a wide spectrum of Bangladesh’s corporate and development landscape committed to fostering inclusivity.
Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, the managing director and CEO of BRAC Bank PLC, underlined the institution’s core value of inclusion, extending beyond financial matters to encompass gender equality, disability rights, and broader societal integration. Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, reiterated the government’s dedication to advancing disability inclusion across various sectors through supportive policies, collaborative efforts, and enforcement measures.
Key figures such as Ardashir Kabir, chairman of the BBDN Board of Trustees; Jürgen Menze, disability inclusion specialist from ILO’s Global Business and Disability Network; and Juergen Schilling, country director of GIZ Bangladesh, alongside representatives from ILO, GIZ, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and prominent private-sector leaders, were also in attendance at the seminar.