The relationship between socioeconomic status and the deaf experience in Bangladesh, like in many other countries, is complex. It involves various initiatives that significantly impact the quality of life, access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for deaf individuals.
Keep reading to learn more about the socioeconomic status of the deaf community in Bangladesh.
The Deaf Community in Bangladesh
Deafness is a health issue in Bangladesh. The population is 169 million as of 2023, and 13 million are deaf. One of the leading causes of hearing disabilities in Bangladesh is CSOM (Chronic suppurative otitis media), which can develop during childhood.
The deaf community in Bangladesh uses the Bangla Sign Language (BDSL) as a primary mode of communication. In 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Haina declared BDSL an official language, and February 7th is the official sign language day in Bangladesh. Even with recognition over the years, opportunities for deaf people are stagnant.
The Daily Star reports on the lack of sign language institutions in Bangladesh for deaf people. The lack of skilled teachers, but the willingness to raise awareness and share the language is there by those who know it. That’s where the Disabled People Organisation (DPO) comes in. They are a group of BDSL users representing their community and teaching people how to use the language. BDSL has no legal protections yet in Bangladesh. Therefore, it’s rarely in institutions like hospitals or schools that can isolate the deaf community. The DPO is working towards establishing rights for BDSL.
The Progression of Bangla Sign Language
Now, the DPO isn’t dismissing the efforts made in favor of the deaf community on behalf of the Bangladeshi government. The Bangla Sign Language dictionary was published in 1994, but it has been 20 years since it was last revised, deeming it irrelevant in a modern context. In addition, the media does have interpreters on live TV for the news. Advocates of the deaf community argue the credibility of the interpreters lacks any depth that appeals to and resonates with deaf viewers.
The Bangladeshi government takes minority culture and language preservation seriously. They’ve established schools specifically for minority languages. However, BDSL doesn’t get the same attention. The recognition of the deaf community and their language is quite unsatisfactory in many ways.
How Education Coincides with Economic Status
Photo by Ariful Haque: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-planting-on-field-3560020/
Education paves the way to a future. Unfortunately, it is still a significant challenge in Bangladesh. UNICEF reports that the universal enrollment for primary education boys and girls is on par with the universal average. After primary school, the enrollment rate drops. Bangladesh has a youth population of 58 million, and only 60% are attending school. There are a few factors that impact this. It can stem from a culture where the girls are married off at a young age, and the boys work to help the family.
Kids from poor backgrounds and disabled people are at risk of inaccessible education. UNICEF adds that children who are deaf or have other disabilities are seven times more likely to be out of school than other kids. The other side is that deaf children can struggle with basic academics, like meeting literacy and mathematical requirements of the Bangladeshi standards.
Deaf children need a quality education starting in their early years to set them up later in life. Schooling provides social skills and develops emotional intelligence and other life skills. But this doesn’t exactly pan out in Bangladesh. Deaf children face barriers to getting into government schools or can’t pay fees for private schools. And since sign language isn’t readily available, children don’t get to learn it before school. They arrive at the classroom with no language skills. That impedes the learning process tremendously. Without language, they can’t benefit from the school system.
The Youth Intervention Centers
The teachers in school can’t communicate or support deaf students. The inability of deaf students to speak in school affects literacy rates. On top of that, Bangladesh doesn’t provide deaf support for early years students. Therefore, the chances of them succeeding in school are grim. So, Global Partnership searched for solutions to this growing need for deaf education.
Global Partnership works with the AIDS Foundation, Songshoptaque Centre for Disability in Development, and others to set up intervention centers for deaf children to have a real chance at education. The foundation helps deaf children integrate into the education system by focusing on sign language and supporting the individual learning process. This initiative is aimed at kids from poorer areas. While there have been hiccups in the journey, the progress is starting to show as more kids are admitted into schools and passing their courses.
Alleviating Poverty for Economic Status
So, it’s easy to see why having a quality education is crucial for the future. Bangladesh is still a lower-income country with aspirations of reaching middle income. The World Bank sheds some light on the socioeconomic progress of the developing country. The government has worked to reduce poverty and improve welfare programs since the early 2000s, but it has also slowed in the past decade. Surprisingly, the poverty in rural areas has progressed more than in urban areas of the country. Even so, job creation is still slow.
Alleviating poverty is one of the major concerns of the Bangladeshi government. They implemented programs, thrusting underprivileged groups out of extreme poverty and a higher socioeconomic status. One program is a monthly allowance, BDT850 ($7), for people with disabilities, including deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to that, they are giving stipends to students with disabilities based on grade level. And while the allowance doesn’t seem significant, it is still a major step forward by the government.
However, as Daily Star reports, the corruption in Bangladesh can turn a well-meaning initiative towards the deaf community badly. Responsibility in the hands of the wrong people hinders the welfare programs, and the establishment of special schools by the government is on halt because of unethical actions.
How Deaf Organizations are Rewriting the Narrative
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Fortunately, there are organizations like the Bangladesh Federation of the Deaf. Established in 1963, they have ongoing projects for the deaf community to better their lives and lift them from poverty. These include vocational training and developing skills to get a job with a liveable wage. They also conduct technology training and the Bangla Sign Language. Communication is crucial to participating in society, and learning sign language can lessen the barriers.
National Deaf Children’s Society is also doing incredible work as the federation. Their core belief encourages young deaf people to stand up for the community and future generations to sustain their rights. The society works closely with the Centre for Disability in Development in Bangladesh and other organizations we’ve mentioned to propel the deaf community forward. Some of the successes include a local hospital providing free medical care for deaf patients, deaf students receiving government assistance and access to education, in addition to vocational training to start their businesses.
It’s important to note that the experiences of deaf individuals can vary widely within Bangladesh due to factors such as urban/rural divides, regional disparities, and cultural differences. In conclusion, the socioeconomic status of the deaf community in Bangladesh is influenced by education, employment opportunities, healthcare, and social inclusion. Addressing these challenges involves better government policies, advocacy efforts, and societal awareness to create an equitable society.
Visit https://www.unspokenasl.com/ for more on how economic status impacts the deaf experience.
Photo Credit to: Photo by Kelly
