16.5m older people, eight empty homes
Bangladesh now has around 16.5 million people aged 60 and above, but the country’s institutional support for its rapidly growing elderly population remains strikingly limited.
On the International Day of Older Persons, the contrast is stark: while millions need healthcare, income security and long-term care, eight government-built elderly homes with space for 200 people remain without a single resident.
The International Day of Older Persons is being observed today under the theme “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.”
The theme comes at a critical moment for Bangladesh, where the proportion of older people is rising rapidly as life expectancy increases and fertility declines.
According to the World Health Organization’s 2024 demographic profile, Bangladesh had an estimated 16.51 million people aged 60 and above, accounting for about 10% of the population.
The number is projected to rise sharply, with people aged 60 and above expected to make up 19% of the population by 2050.
The 2022 Population and Housing Census counted 15.33 million people aged over 60, or 9.28% of the population, up from 7.47% in 2011.
Eight homes, no residents
One of the clearest examples of the gap between need and services is the government’s Shanti Nibash programme.
Eight Shanti Nibash facilities-one in each division-were constructed with a combined capacity of 200 elderly residents. Yet, as of September 2026, none of them was operational.
The buildings were completed in June 2024, but they have remained unused because the required staffing structures have not been created.
Authorities are now working on the recruitment and administrative processes, with officials saying the facilities are expected to begin operations after necessary approvals.
The eight facilities cost about Tk82 crore to build. Although they were officially inaugurated in November 2023, reports found that several buildings had remained locked and poorly maintained, with dust accumulating on furniture and moss appearing on some walls.
The problem becomes more apparent when the capacity of these homes is compared with the size of the elderly population: 200 beds for more than 16 million older people.
Research cited by the Bangladesh Association for the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine (BAAIGM) estimates that around 100 privately or NGO-run old-age homes operate across the country, accommodating only about 1,000 to 1,500 people.
BAAIGM itself operates a 50-bed residential facility at Agargaon in Dhaka. The facility currently houses around 30 people, according to recent reporting.
The organisation says it has 92 branches across Bangladesh, providing healthcare, income-generation and welfare services for older people.
However, these services are not equivalent to residential care. Most older people continue to live with their families, while those without family support, adequate income or access to care face much greater risks.
Tk700 allowance against rising needs
The government’s largest direct support programme for older people is the Old Age Allowance.
For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the programme covered 6.1 million beneficiaries, with each receiving Tk650 per month. The budget allocation was Tk4,791.31 crore.
For fiscal year 2026-27, the government increased coverage to 6.2 million beneficiaries and raised the standard monthly allowance to Tk700. People aged over 90 under the programme are to receive Tk1,000 a month.
But the allowance reaches only a portion of the country’s elderly population. With around 16.5 million people aged 60 and above, the 6.2 million beneficiaries represent roughly 38% of the older population, although eligibility rules mean the two figures are not directly comparable.
The current programme targets poorer and economically vulnerable older people. Men generally become eligible from age 65 and women from age 62, subject to other criteria.
