Are the rights of the old well protected?

Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :

As per the population census of 2022, people aged 60 years and above are considered as senior citizens and their number is 9.28 per cent of the total population (more than 2.5 crore) of the country.

Likewise, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has predicted that the older people will cover 10.09 per cent in 2025, while the number is expected to increase enormously around 17 per cent in 2050.

In spite of rapidly increasing numbers of the older population, development protection of their rights and wellbeing is less visible in Bangladesh.

The older people need inclusive attention and care equally like any other segment of the population.

Like different regions of the world, many Asian countries have already started to pay attention in developing elderly support programs and legal framework.

Bangladesh is far behind from many Asian countries in ensuring proper protection and minimum social security services for the senior citizens.

At present, the traditional joint family structures have broken down and familial support to the older people have been reduced drastically.

Due to absence of proper protective mechanism, millions of older people are living a miserable life within and outside the family.

Moreover, community home-based care and residential care facilities have not developed yet in the country.

Rather, the concept of old homes, caregivers and rehabilitation centers are getting popular as well.

Accordingly, there is no regulatory framework or monitoring authority specifically for old homes and centers.

Traditionally it is not much appreciated by the society because of the prevailing social, cultural, and religious norms of the country.

If somebody thinks that after a certain time rights of human life will have to be shortened.

According to them only the brave and the younger will deserve the fair.

To them, the old cannot deserve and maintain fairness.

They should have no right to share in fairness and also cannot share in nation building.

In some so-called progressive country, the old are hated, they are not duly honored.

Even in some countries the old are suggested to leave the world not by giving burdens to others.

This is totally inhuman. Actually the old should be treated as gold.

If they live long time and contribute the nation with their experience an idea, it would be an added value for building an ideal society.

Everything of the old in our society must be taken care of.

They must not be burdened with the anxiety of life.

They must be want free and stress free.

Every requiring thing must be available within their reach.

All timely demand must be satisfied.

Wants or lacking will give them pain and sufferings.

In no way, they will suffer from any complicacy.

In our society, there are many old and crippled persons who are not properly respected by their successors.

The old father or mother is not properly looked after.

Rather they are treated inhumanly.

They are tortured by the family members or even they are abused.

Service is not rendered properly to them.

They are maltreated and no nourishment is provisioned for them.

They are kept isolated, unfed and pass time with no medical care.

They often live in unhygienic and unhealthy environment.

No safe drinking water, clean bed-room, wash-room, bath-room is allocated for them.

They are not well attended even at the time of their critical condition.

In the west or developed countries, there are old management center.

The old are managed there as per routine program followed by the designated rules and policies of the center chief and supervisors.

There are required number of attendants and nurses to look after their everyday affairs.

How the center will be managed? It will be ascertained by their wishes, likings and disliking’s.

A board may be constituted by the members from them.

They sit together, discuss and find out the points and counter points of the system which to be maintained.

In the west, all are guaranteed by the government.

The old people should be provided with the recreational facilities and necessary privileges.

They should not be isolated from society.

If they are detached it would be very unkind and cruel.

Directly and indirectly there should have the arrangement to join every social affair.

By participation in the program or any festival, they can enjoy and get the mental satisfaction as if they are part and parcel of the family and social events.

If any old man has any hobby of his own, he must be given the freedom to do it.

If one is interested in indoor playing, he/she must be allowed to do it.

And old man or women needs a company to perform recreational job.

These arrangements need to be made for their peace.

They should have a different world from where they can find pleasure and charms of life.

The way they want to lead their life may not be accommodative.

But they should be assisted and given the support of all means what they deserve.

They should chat, play, do fun, practice newspapers reading, work, smile, watching movies and share love, feeling and emotion.

Always he must pass his time in enjoyment and merriment.

Old are not always neglected.

In their old age they can help us with their teaching, wisdom, knowledge and experience.

By their experience society can be enriched and we can flourish ourselves.

Although old are not gold they must be cared cordially and taken care of.

And finally all their rights and privileges must be maintained.

(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh
Ansar and VDP).