Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This paper presents a scoping review of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction (DiDRR) and climate change adaptation (DiCCA) in Bangladesh covering the period 2009–2025. The review examined national policy frameworks, peer-reviewed studies, and grey literature to assess the extent of disability inclusion. Searches were conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed, alongside institutional sources from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), UN agencies, and NGOs. A total of 105 documents were systematically reviewed and mapped. Findings indicate slow, iterative, and uneven progress. Disability inclusion has been formally acknowledged in the Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD), Disaster Management Act (2012) and the National Plan for Disaster Management (2021–2025), both of which reference engagement with Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) and inclusive preparedness measures. The Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act (2013) also establishes a legal foundation for rights-based approaches, yet its operational linkage to climate and disaster planning remains weak. Adaptation documents such as the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2009) and the National Adaptation Plan (2023–2050) employ broad notions of “vulnerable groups” but fail to integrate disability-specific strategies, indicators, or budgetary mechanisms. Persistent weaknesses include insufficient accessibility in cyclone shelters, limited recognition of intersectional vulnerabilities (children, women, elderly, and rural residents with disabilities), and the absence of disability-disaggregated data to inform planning and monitoring. The paper recommends a shift towards mandatory disability-inclusive clauses in adaptation and disaster policies, systematic accessibility audits of critical infrastructure, strengthened engagement with DPOs, and investment in disaggregated data collection.

The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 14(2), 2025, P 65-85