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The International Day of Older Persons will be observed in the country today like elsewhere in the globe with the theme ‘Digital Equity for All Ages’.
On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the country’s all senior citizens and wished sound health and peaceful life for them.
President Abdul Hamid, in his message, said “I welcome the initiative of observing the International Day of Older Persons in the country like elsewhere in the world. I think this year’s theme for the day ‘Digital Equity for All Ages’ is appropriate”.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had inserted the Article 15 (Gha) in the Constitution of Bangladesh for ensuring social security of the country’s helpless senior citizens, he said.
Following the constitution, the Awami League government launched old-age allowance in 1996, under which more than 49 lakh elderly citizens at the marginal level received the allowance in 2020-21 fiscal year, he added.
The old-age allowance has been expanded in the current fiscal, the head of the state said the government declared the elderly people as the senior citizens in 2014 and undertook the action plan 2015 to implement the National Policy on Older Persons.
Hamid hoped that the steps taken by the government would play a constructive role in ensuring welfare for the country’s elderly people.
He called upon the non-government organisations alongside the government to take effective measurers for welfare of the senior citizens of the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the Awami League (AL) government has taken various initiatives, including National Policy-2013 on Older Persons and the Parents Maintenance Act-2013, for overall welfare of the elderly people.
“In the Coronavirus pandemic, I specially request the elderly people to follow health guidelines, including maintaining social distancing, using masks outside the home and washing hands regularly,” she added.
