Khulna Correspondent :
The International Day of Older Persons was observed here through various programmes with the theme of ‘The Journey to Age Equality yesterday.
Marking the day, District Administration and the Department of Social Services of Khulna jointly brought out a procession in the city. The procession started from city’s Shaheed Park led by Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque and ended at the Collectorate Building.
Later, a discussion was held at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office with local DC Md Helal Hossain in the chair. KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque addressed the discussion as chief guest.
Director of the Department of Social Service Khulna Division Md Abdur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Md Ziaur Rahman and Police Super S M Shafiullah addressed, among others.
KCC Mayor said the present government has been implementing different welfare programmes under the slogan ‘Vision 2021’ for the betterment of the senior citizens. The speakers said the elder people have always played a significant role in society, as leaders, guides and custodians of tradition. They are also highly vulnerable and becoming disabled or facing discrimination in the society.
The government has been supporting and promoting the policies for the development of the elder people to meet their needs, they added.
The International Day of Older Persons has been being observed across the world since 1991 aiming to creating public awareness about old age along with ensuring security and rights for the senior citizens.
BSS from Rangpur reports: Eminent elderly citizens at a post-rally a discussion yesterday stressed on utilising experience of elder citizens acknowledging their incredible contribution to the country for further accelerating national advancement.
They expressed the view at the discussion held at conference room of the Deputy Commissioner in observance of the International Day of Older Persons-2019 with the theme of ‘The Journey to Age Equality’ here as elsewhere across the globe.
The district administration, Civil Surgeon’s Office, Department of Social Services (DSS), ‘Bangladesh Probin Hitoishi Sangha (BPHS)’, Hypertension Centre, Help Age International and Share Foundation chalked out programmes to observe the day.
The programmes included releasing balloon, blood grouping camp, measuring blood pressure and body weight and diabetic test free of costs, colourful rally and discussion and honoring of five eminent older citizens for their notable contribution to the society.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan addressed the discussion as chief guest with President of district unit of BPHS and former President of District Unit command of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad Mosaddek Hossain Bablu in the chair.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Syed Enamul Kabir, Deputy Director of the DSS Mossarraf Hossain, physicians Dr. Joynal Abedin, Dr. Probal Sutradhar and social worker Naresh Chandra Sarker addressed as special guests.
On the occasion, five eminent elder citizens, including language movement veteran Mohammad Afzal, Zilifar Ali Elli, Razeka Sultana, Narayan Chandra Roy and Joya Roy, were honoured with books on Bangabandhu’s life, crests and citations.
Professor Mohammad Shah Alam, freedom fighter Akbor Hossain, Office Secretary of district Awami League Tauhidur Rahman Tutul, drama personality Monwar Hossain, social worker China Chowdhury, poet Manjil Murad, among others, spoke.
Mosaddek Hossain discussed unparalleled contribution of older generations to the War of Liberation and all national movements and cited their loneliness, carelessness and negligence.
The chief guest said older people are precious assets of the nation and cited various pragmatic steps taken by the present government to ensure their peaceful living, medicare and other facilities.
BSS from Rajshahi adds: Speakers at a post-rally discussion here yesterday stressed the need for ensuring congenial atmosphere everywhere in the society including family for welfare of the elderly people as they are the integral part of the family and the society as a whole. They viewed that many people become vulnerable when they are in their old ages and face multifarious problems due to various reasons. They are also subjected to repression and oppression in many ways.
To mitigate the odd situation, the society should take the responsibility of protecting them as there is no way to discard their contribution to the field of cultural, economical and political aspects of the country.
District and Divisional offices of Department of Social Services (DSS) and Senior Citizens Welfare Association (SCWA) jointly organized the discussion at conference hall of Bangladesh Shishu Academy to mark the International Day of Older Persons-2019.
Various social and voluntary organizations supported the programme. “The Journey To Age Equality” was the main theme of the day.
Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque and local unit president of SCWA Dr Dr Zahurul Haque addressed the meeting as chief and special guests respectively with DSS Divisional Director Sarwar Jahan in the chair.
DSS Deputy Director Rashedul Kabir, Member of National Social Welfare Council Mozammel Haque, former Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University Prof Altaf Hossain, retired college principal Prof Bodruddoza and Social Service Officer Dr Hamidul Islam also spoke.
The discussants expressed their gratitude to the government for enacting the national policy on elderly persons and called for enforcement of the policy so that the target group can derive maximum benefits out of it.
The government has also declared the elderly people as senior citizens for acknowledging their nation-building contribution.
On the contrary, they said if every son and daughter pays due respect to their parents no aged people would face an unexpected condition. All conscious people especially the policy makers should obviously feel the importance..
