“Inclusion is not a choice; it’s a responsibility, let’s build a world where everyone belongs.”

Inclusion doesn’t begin with policy — it begins with perspective. Recognizing this, Team Inclusion Bangladesh, in partnership with Prime Bank PLC and Monash University, aimed at transforming the banking sector into a more inclusive space for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), elderly individuals, and pregnant women.

The project was launched following an initial research phase that investigated the persistent exclusion of Persons with Disabilities from formal banking systems in Bangladesh. Despite the presence of progressive national policies and legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), a significant number of Persons with Disabilities remain underserved. The research revealed a crucial insight: beyond physical and systemic challenges, the most entrenched barrier to inclusion is attitudinal, rooted in fear, unconscious bias, and a general lack of awareness and empathy among banking personnel.

In response, the project was aptly titled “Breaking Attitudinal Barriers”, with a focus on transforming mindsets and institutional practices. The initiative consists of two interlinked components