Most priorities in regard to old people remain unattended

Editorial Desk :
Due to advancement in medical science and relative improvement in managing food and shelter as well as increase in awareness in general, life expectancy has considerably increased all over the world. This has augmented the number of aged people, and according to a national daily report, as of 2019, more than 13 million people in Bangladesh were aged over 60 representing eight percent of the country’s total population.
Even if one takes into account the period of Covid-19 pandemic when mostly the people above 50 were the victims, the fact is the aged people in society are on the rise. This is good news. The society that has older persons more in number is a place of wisdom whether these older persons are of poor or rich background, literate or illiterate background.
The aged people get no special consideration for years from the state, but they maintained their family and contributed to the well-being of society when they were young, yet they now suffer burdensome existence. However, the tradition of social responsibility to look after their old parents is becoming harder to continue. The cost of meeting the family needs is so high that in most cases both husband and wife have to earn for keeping the family going.
The truth is we are getting governments who come to power not with any sense of sacrifice for the welfare of the needy and the poor people. The people in the government are in power to earn money and move among the wealthy elites. They want to be rich and powerful. They are inclined to take up mega projects for mega expenses and mega corruption. The situation has become so incongruous that the poor are becoming the poorer while the rich the richer. The government has little or no obligation to the general public.
The government’s priority should be to lift the poor ones above poverty. This kind of thinking is absent. It is a surprise to know that so many people have stashed huge public money in foreign banks and bought expensive properties to live abroad in opulence.