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Podcast with Abdus Sattar Dulal

Mr. Abdus Sattar Dulal was born in 1960 in Bangladesh. At the age of 15, he survived a life-threatening fall from a tree — by the grace of Allah, his life was spared. The accident left him in a coma for 42 days and required a long seven-year recovery. Since then, he has lived with a physical disability and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Dulal’s mother, Noor Nahar, constantly prayed for him, saying, “May Allah make a way for my helpless child.” Today, her prayers are reflected in his journey. Dulal is now widely respected and holds a position of global leadership among the 1.3 billion people with disabilities around the world. Mr. Dulal is married to a woman who also has a severe disability, and together they are proud parents of two sons.

Mr. Dulal brings over 47 years of dedicated experience in advancing holistic development and promoting the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), non-discriminatory systems, policies, and practices at both national and international levels. He is a widely recognized expert, activist, leader, mentor, and advocate, working tirelessly to uphold the rights and foster the sustainable development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). His actions create the impact that leads to an increase in human rights and development acceptable, enjoyable and sustainable for all.

Mr. Dulal played an instrumental role in shaping major initiatives such as in the four consecutive decades of UNESCAP (1993–2032) he has contributed to the development of key frameworks, mandate for action, and strategies, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Asian Development Bank’s Poverty and Social Development Papers, the World Report on Disability, Australia’s Development for All policy. In Bangladesh, he has been instrumental in national policies and programs such as the Bangladesh National Skills Development Policy 2011, the 1st specific national policy on persons with disabilities of 1995, the 1996 Action Plan and the Act of 2001/2013 and several mainstreaming policies and plans included the interest of PwDs.

Mr. Dulal has been recognized for his expertise through membership in around 50 government committees addressing a wide range of issues. Since 1986, he has led over 565 high-level advocacy meetings, engaging with the highest levels of leadership in Bangladesh — including all Presidents since 1988, all Prime Ministers, the numerous Ministers, leaders of political parties, the Chief Justice, the Chief Election Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission, the Law Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Central Bank, and many other key stakeholders.

Mr. Dulal has been honoured as a UN Disability Rights Champion. Over the years, he has served as a speaker, presenter, and provide leadership at hundreds of national and international events organized diverse stakeholders — including BPKS, OPDs, UN agencies, DPI, WHO, ADB, CBM, HI, the World Bank, universities, national governments, the European Union, AUSAID, and USAID — across 71 countries worldwide.

Mr. Dulal developed an innovation, persons with disabilities-led approach to rights and holistic development called PSID (Persons with Disabilities Self-Initiative to Development). This model has been replicated in 33 districts across Bangladesh, empowering and improving the lives of millions of persons with disabilities through the actions of its developed organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). Under his leadership, BPKS managed about 25 foreign-funded projects valued at 15 million USD and BPKS’ current asset value is approximately $13 million.

Mr. Dulal initiated the establishment of 30 civil society organizations, including Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) in Bangladesh. He is currently leading (voluntarily) several key positions, including Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BPKS, President of the National Alliance of Disabled People’s Organizations (NADPO), World President of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), and Chairman of BPKS Consumer Ltd. He also serves as an advisor to numerous organizations in Bangladesh and abroad.

Mr. Dulal won first prize among wheelchair runners in Bangladesh in 1983. In the Chess Tournament, he received the 1st position at the local and national levels, and 3rd position at the international level in 1995.