Our recent Local Guides meetup in Dhaka was a mission to address an essential issue: ensuring Wheelchair 
Accessibility in public spaces. This event brought together Local Guides to explore, evaluate, and improve the accessibility of public Restroom and other facilities in the city.
The goal was clear: to identify areas that are truly accessible for wheelchair users, raise awareness where improvements are needed, and document everything on Google Maps for public benefit. This initiative aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 and SDG 10.
From Badda to Gulshan, we explored various locations, assessed accessibility, and engaged with local stakeholders to advocate for change. Through this event, we took the first step toward making Dhaka a more inclusive and accessible city for everyone.
Photo: @ShafiulB Bhai, Alson Dada, Sumon Bhai & Me.
I arrived at the meetup venue on time and met Shafiul Bhai. Together, we discussed the agenda and decided to start by exploring Wheelchair-Accessible Restroom in the area. Our journey began with raising awareness among shopkeepers and a shopping mall about the importance of having wheelchair-accessible ramps. We requested they consider adding ramps and explained how it could benefit the community.
Soon, we were joined by fellow Local Guides @Alson_Barua25 Dada and Sumon Bhai at Badda Link Road. We briefly discussed, clicked a group photo, and headed towards Gulshan 1.
We found a Public Restroom and assessed its accessibility for wheelchair users. Disappointingly, despite the signage indicating wheelchair access, the facility wasn’t accessible 
.
We politely requested the staff make the facility.
After having a light snack with my fellow Local Guides, they left, and I continued my mission. I headed to Gulshan 2 via Rickshaw to explore more public toilets. At last, I discovered a well-maintained public Restroom that was fully **Wheelchair-Accessible** 
. It featured separate facilities for men and women, clean drinking water, and proper hygiene measures. However, I noticed there was no accessibility sticker outside the facility. After discussing with the on-site manager, we placed a sticker on the exterior wall to indicate it’s accessibility.
During this journey, I verified other nearby toilets on Google Maps, reported duplicate listings, and updated necessary details.
Photo: I updated the information on Google Maps and wrote a detailed review.
Photo: @Mashfi21 & Me.
This marked the end of our meetup, but it was more than just an event. It was the first step towards ensuring accessibility in Dhaka’s public spaces.
This journey isn’t just about a single meetup; it’s the beginning of my commitment to making Dhaka more accessible for Wheelchair users. My goal is to locate all public toilets in Dhaka, assess their accessibility, and provide accurate data for everyone’s benefit. Even if no one joins me, I am determined to continue this initiative on my bicycle, collecting and sharing reliable data for public use.
This effort aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
You can help by:
Sharing information about wheelchair accessibility in your area.
Raising awareness about this cause on social media.
Participating in future campaigns to promote accessibility.
Let’s work together to make a better city where everyone can navigate and live comfortably, regardless of physical ability.
Specially Thanks @ShafiulB Bhai, @KamalHossen Bhai, @NahidHossain Bhai, @Mashfi21 Bhai, @Alson_Barua25 Dada, @TusharSuradkar Dada, Sumon Bhai & other’s local Guide’s thank you very much for inspiring me in this venture and helping me in various ways.
Visit the photos album to see more photos.
On the occasion of International Day of Disability, I hope this initiative will become a supporter for all people with disabilities.
Today is World Day of Persons with Disabilities.
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