Evaluating Web Accessibility and Usability in Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis of Government and Non-Government Websites

2026-01-02

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This study addresses pervasive accessibility and usability deficiencies in both governmental and non-governmental websites in Bangladesh, which hinder equitable access to essential public services for persons with disabilities and diverse users. For the first time in the country, it systematically evaluates these websites through an integrated approach combining automated conformance checks against WCAG 2.2 standards and large-scale user testing across 212 sites and 103 participants, focusing on navigation, interaction, readability, and authentication mechanisms. Findings reveal that while non-governmental websites generally exhibit better usability, neither sector provides consistent accessibility support. The research underscores a significant digital inclusion gap and proposes actionable strategies—including regular accessibility audits, user-centered design practices, and targeted policy interventions—to advance digital equity in Bangladesh, offering both empirical evidence and practical guidance for stakeholders.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Application Domains: Humanities & Computational Social Science
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Web

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Consent frameworks and practices on the web
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Robustness and generalizability of Web mining methods
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization

Abstract

Ensuring digital accessibility is essential for inclusive access to online services. However, many government and non-government websites that provide critical services - such as education, healthcare, and public administration - continue to exhibit significant accessibility and usability barriers. This study evaluates the accessibility of Bangladeshi government and non-government websites under WCAG~2.2 by combining automated accessibility assessments with user-reported feedback. A total of 212 websites were analyzed using multiple automated tools, complemented by a survey of 103 users to capture real-world usability, accessibility, and security experiences. The results reveal substantial disparities between government and non-government websites, highlighting persistent issues related to navigation complexity, interaction cost, visual readability, accessibility feature adoption, and authentication mechanisms. While non-government websites generally demonstrate better usability and functional performance, accessibility support remains inconsistent across both categories. The findings underscore the need for regular accessibility audits, user-centered design practices, and policy-driven interventions to improve digital inclusivity and ensure equitable access to online services for diverse user populations.

Problem

• Web Accessibility
• Usability
• Digital Inclusion
• WCAG
• Government Websites

Innovation

• web accessibility
• usability evaluation
• WCAG 2.2
• user-centered design
• digital inclusivity