The road to a truly inclusive and disability-friendly Bangladesh is undoubtedly long and complex, but there is much potential for success.

Bristi Akter has no legs since birth. Now 13, the Kishoreganj girl showed an increasing interest in studies and her family had her admitted to a local school. But her peers would often tease her about her condition, forcing her family to stop sending her to the school in the district’s Bhogpara in Katiadi upazila.

Rakib Hossain, a barber from Narayanganj, has been fighting two battles since the July mass uprising -- one for his health and another for his family’s survival.