UNB, Dhaka :In line with the UN policy, President Abdul Hamid on Thursday declared the country’s people aged 60 years or above as senior citizens.”Through today’s programme, I’m declaring all the respected elderly people of the country as senior citizens to honour their contributions to society and the state. Apart from this, I wish their good health, respectful life and overall welfare,” he said. The President said this while addressing a programme organised by Social Welfare Ministry at the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.On November 17, 2013, the Cabinet approved the National Policy on Older Persons recognising the elderly people as senior citizens in line with the UN policy.In policies of the developed countries, people aged 65 years or above are considered as the elderly people while UN policy recognises those who are 60 or above as elderly people.”We’ve to keep in mind that a nation can move forward with the joint efforts of young and old people. Here, the young people are indispensable on one hand and the elder people are necessary on the other,” the President said.Hamid continued, “All expect that the young will take the society forward through their work utilising the experience of the older citizens.”Terming the older citizens the pathfinders, the President urged all to be sincere in ensuring the social respect and security of the elderly people.”For this, we’ll have to strengthen our traditional family bonding…we’ ll have to teach the children from their childhood to respect the elderly people because this is our tradition,” he added. “I expect that the Parents’ Day will be observed in every family every day instead of observing Father’s Day or Mother’s Day on a fixed day like in western countries.” Abdul Hamid said.Mentioning that the family is the most peaceful and safe place for the elderly people, Hamid said children have to take the responsibility so that the elderly people can live with respect and comfort with other members of the family.He also hoped that various financial organisations will come forward for the service of the elderly people through their CSR progrommes.Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali, Social Welfare Secretary Nasima Begum and National Professor MR Khan, among others, spoke at the function.
