Terming older persons as enlightened people having long experiences, Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon said their experiences could be aptly utilized in the development endeavours of the country.
The government is contemplating to utilize the experiences of the elderly, he said this on Monday while addressing a discussion at Social Services Department in the city’s Agargaon area.
Social Services Department organized the discussion marking the International Day of Older Persons while State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed addressed it as the special guest. Social Welfare Secretary Md Zillar Rahman chair the function.
Menon stressed on taking care of elderly people and said “Family is the real abode of older persons. It is the moral rights of the elderly to live with their families in the last days of their life”.
Professor of Dhaka University’s (DU) Institute of Social Welfare and Research Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman presented a keynote paper in the discussion while Director General of the Social Services Department Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir gave vote of thanks in the function.
Later, he distributed crests among three women for their contributions in taking care of elderly people.
Founder of the ‘Apon Nibas’ Syeda Selina Selim was honoured for establishing the ‘Nibas’ for helping elderly people while Ivan Ahmed, a transgender, was honoured for taking care of his 93 year-old mother.
