DISABLED PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT IN BANGLADESH: WHY SO LITTLE CHANGES? Md Abdul Jalil a Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh a Corresponding author: jalil_sust@yahoo.com ©Ontario International Development Agency ISSN: 1923-6654 (print) ISSN 1923-6662 (online). Available at http://www.ssrn.com/link/OIDA-Intl-Journal-Sustainable-Dev.html Abstract: People with disabilities are most vulnerable and deprived segment of the population in Bangladesh having limited opportunities of education, training and employment. Most of them are isolated from mainstream society, stigmatized, mistreated and marginalized. However, inclusion of people from all segment of the society including people with disability in the mainstream development activities is necessary for achieving sustainable development and minimizing inequalities. Appropriate employment opportunities can minimize marginalization, expedite the inclusion process and enhance mainstreaming of people with disabilities. In Bangladesh, public sector is the larger provider of employment opportunity. People with disabilities encounter difficulties to access to the public sector employment although 10 percent quota for third and fourth grade and 1 percent quota for first and second grade jobs are reserved for them. In addition, there is a constitutional and legal obligation to ensure equal opportunities and participation in health education and employment for persons with disabilities. However, share of persons with disabilities in the public sector employment in Bangladesh is less than 1 percent although they represent more than 10 percent of the total population. The present study examines the causes why are persons with disabilities in Bangladesh not enjoying equal access to public sector employment in Bangladesh. The paper argues that Bangladesh could not ensure equal opportunity for disabled people in the public sector employment because of the negative perception of Bangladeshi elites towards disadvantaged and marginalized communities including disabled people, lack of political commitment, negative attitude of community people, misunderstanding of employers about the capacity and skills of disabled persons and absence of inclusive education, although the country adopted UN convention and enacted laws for creating equal opportunity in all aspects of life including employment. Keywords: Exclusion, Inclusion, Marginalized communities, Persons with disabilities, Public sector employment, INTRODUCTION angladesh has made substantial progress in alleviating poverty over the last two decades although significant portions of population still live with poverty, vulnerability and uncertainty. The economy of Bangladesh has been growing 5-6 percent annually since 1996 in spite of political instability, poor infrastructure, widespread corruption, inadequate power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reform [21]. The country has achieved a significant decline in the rate of population growth. Child and maternal mortality was reduced appreciably during the 1990s, life expectancy has increased to about 67 years, net primary enrolment has improved significantly, gender parity has been achieved in attendances at primary and secondary schools, and participation of women in economic, social and political activities increased considerably. However, disability remains a neglected issue in the policy process of the country. B