DU for the differently-abled

Dhaka University has always been the epitome of knowledge in the country but how much of that knowledge is accessible to all the students remains under question.

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities that falls on Tuesday, looking back at the deeds of the newly elected Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) for the physically challenged students reveals that progress has been made.

There is a view that persons with disabilities are better described as differently-abled, and one such youngster at DU is Joshiah Sangma Chibol, popularly known as Chibol Sangma. He was elected a member of DUCSU bagging the highest votes among member aspirants back in March, and talked to UNB about his experience in the position so far.

Born with a rare genetic disease known as Osteigenesis Imperfecta (OI), Chibol has spent virtually his entire life on wheelchairs, tackling various hurdles in the track of education.

Now a master’s student of Sanskrit Language department, Chibol said one of the ‘prime goals‘ of the elected panel of DUCSU was to enable greater access everywhere around campus for students with disabilities.

“As part of that goal, ramps have been erected at different entrances around the university by engineers with approval from the university administration because of our collective initiative,” said Chibol.

He highlighted that previously, infrastructural changes for facilitating differently-abled students were made without coordination.

“For instance, a ramp in the main entrance of Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall was made after relentless requests of a disabled student attached to that dorm…similarly, the ramp in the Arts Building was made after my request to the then-dean of Arts faculty Akhtaruzzaman which fortunately did not take long,” Chibol told UNB.