Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
Kishoreganj District Administration, Social Welfare and Probin Hitoishi Sangho jointly arranged a colourfull rally, discussion and documentary film marking the International Day of Older Persons-2018 on Monday .
A discussion meeting was held at collectorate conference Room. Probin Hitoishi Sangho President Prof Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed presided over the meeting. DC Md Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury was present as Chief Guest. Among others, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Tarafder Md Akhter Jamil, Deputy Director Social Welfare Md. Kamruzzaman Khan and Additional Police Super Masud Anowar were present in the programme.
It was addressed among others by Professor Rafiqul Islam Khan, Principal Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Prof Mojaffar Hossain, Adv Nijamuddin, Adv. Abdur Rashid, Alhag Mehir Uddin and Abdur Rahim spoke on the occasion.
BSS from Rangpur reports: Local elites here underscored in a discussion to show due honour and respect to older people in recognition to their fabulous contribution to building the developed and modern society. The observation came at a pre-rally discussion organised by Rangpur unit of Bangladesh Probin Hitoishi Sangha (BPHS) at the Deputy Commissioner’s office premises on Monday afternoon in observance of the International Day of Older Persons-2018.
Crests were distributed among older citizens for their best services to their parents. Afterward, a rally participated by freedom fighters, civil society members and elderly citizens paraded on the city streets. The district administration and district unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad (BMS) extended assistance in observing the day with the theme of ‘Celebrating Older Human Rights Champions’.
Deputy Commissioner Enamul Habib addressed the occasion as chief guest with President of district units of BPHS and BMS Mosaddek Hossain Bablu in the chair.
Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services Abdur Razzaque, freedom fighter Golam Mostafa, elder citizens Mahbubur Rahman, Jashim Uddin, Moksudar Rahman Chowdhury, Dr Ali Hossain, Mamtaz Pervin, among others, addressed.
In his welcome speech, Mosaddek Hossain Bablu discussed issues and problems, like loneliness, carelessness and negligence, being faced by older citizens. He said that inadequate supports are being provided for ensuring their welfare.
“The older citizens contributed maximum in earning our independence and it is impossible to measure their contribution to the nation,” Bablu said suggesting for arranging everything to ensure their peaceful living.
Terming older people as precious assets of the nation, the chief guest narrated various steps taken by the present pro-people government for ensuring their safe living, medicare and other necessary facilities.
He put importance on sharing experience and skills of older citizens with different generations of the present time, taking proper care and more steps to improve their life standard to pay due honour to them.
BSS from Panchagarh says: Local public representatives at a post-rally discussion today stressed on improving life standard of older citizens and taking proper care to pay due honour to them for their tremendous contributions to the nation.
The expressed the opinion in the discussion held at Bhajanpur union headquarters in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh in observance of The International Day of Older Persons-2018 with the theme of “Celebrating Older Human Rights Champions.”
With assistance of Palli Karma Sohayok Foundation and Tentulia upazila administration, RDRS Bangladesh under its “Uplifting the Quality of Lives of Elderly People’s Programme” organised the rally and discussion in observance of the day.
Chairman of Tentulia upazila Rezaul Karim Shahin attended the discussion as the chief guest with Programme Manager of RDRS Bangladesh for Panchagarh Rezaul Karim in the chair.
Vice-chairman of Tentulia upazila Razia Sultana, Bhajanpur union Chairman Moksed Ali and Debiduba union Chairman Abdur Razzaque as special guests addressed the function participated by over 750 elderly citizens. Rezaul Karim narrated carelessness, uncertainly, negligence and other problems being faced by elderly citizens at families and in the society as a whole and the present inadequate supports for ensuring their welfare. Razia Sultana termed older citizens as precious assets of the nation and urged all concerned for ensuring their safe living, medicare and other necessary facilities for them and setting up of old homes in every upazila. The chief guest called for providing elderly citizens with all necessary state facilities, keeping reserved seats in all public transports, hospitals and launching long-term savings and bond schemes along with providing them with suitable jobs.
“The elderly people contributed their maximum in earning the hard-earned independence and the state and government should arrange everything for their peaceful living by relieving them from helplessness,” he added.
BSS from Rajshahi adds: Senior citizens deserve social and psychological support, legal and moral protection by families, neighbors, community and society and the state at large. Creating awareness about the human rights of people in society, particularly among the older persons and protection of their rights have become an urgent task for all of us.
The elders need legal protection, social protection, and home-based and personalized care from family members. This is a moral obligation for all of us, the younger people in particular.
The observations came at a discussion titled “Collective Efforts of Senior and Junior Citizens needed to boost Social Strength” at North Bengal International University (NBIU) in Rajshahi city on Monday.
District unit of Senior Citizens Welfare Association (SCWA) organised the discussion in association with NBIU to mark the International Day of Older Persons-2018.
Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) AHM Khairuzzaman Liton addressed the meeting as chief guest with NBIU Vice-chancellor and SCWA President Prof Abdul Khaleque in the chair.
NBIU Trustee Board Chairman Prof Rasheda Khaleque, SCWA Treasurer Md Waliuzzaman and senior citizens Anwara Begum, Prof Shirin Sufiya Khanom and Idrish Ali also spoke.
Mayor Liton says elderly population should not be isolated; they should rather be encouraged to participate actively in social, cultural, economic and political affairs.
Liton mentioned that the government and society should establish regulatory mechanisms, based on human rights standards, for the delivery of services to older people.
He said the role of the family in helping them is very crucial to ensure all deserving facilities and services.
Mayor Liton, however, said the RCC will work for welfare of the senior citizens in the days ahead.
On the occasion, senior citizens Prof Abdul Khaleque, Prof Rasheda Khaleque, Anwara Begum and Idrish Ali were awarded as recognition to laudable contribution in their respective fields.
