The country’s population is still predominantly young, but a sharp increase in the proportion of those over 60 years of age could leave it ill-prepared to provide them with care. The number of people in the age group in the latest census was over 1.53 crore, which is around 9.28 per cent of the total population of 16.51 crore. In the 2011 census, this group constituted 7.48 per cent of the population.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), by 2050, people aged 60 and above in Bangladesh will number 3.6 crore and constitute 22 per cent of the total population. This is consistent with global trends. Demographers and economists said the healthcare system and existing facilities are not sufficient at all for care and support of a growing number of elderly citizens. Under the Social Welfare Ministry, there are currently six old-age homes. Several shelters and traditional old-age homes are also run by charities.
It is certainly bad if the country remains ill-prepared to deal with its growing burden of the elderly population, who are seen as unproductive, as people of poor health who need intensive and often continuing support. Our society is not ready to take care of the ageing population. The issue is not well integrated into the government’s development strategy and it is also not an integral part of our economic planning.
No society can depend on the public services only to ensure the safety and welfare of the elderly-there has to be community action. The government has to take the lead and inspire the community and local institutions to engage effectively. This is lacking in Bangladesh. The older people have raised the current generation; the current generation now owe them the care they deserve. Government policy support should be there to support growing elderly people, while society should adopt them with family and other social institutions.
