‘Elderly people’s experience is a national asset’
Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Wednesday has called for creating opportunities to use the wisdom, experience and professional skills of elderly people for the benefit of the younger generation and national development.
Retirement from working life should not be treated as the end of a person’s usefulness to society; rather, opportunities should be created for elderly people to continue contributing to society and the state, he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a programme organised by the Department of Social Services at Agargaon in Dhaka on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.
Zahid Hossain said Bangladesh’s average life expectancy had increased significantly since independence. At one time, average life expectancy in the country was 47 to 48 years, and reaching 48 to 50 was considered a long life.
Socioeconomic development, increased purchasing power, expanded healthcare services and other factors had since pushed average life expectancy beyond 70 years, he said.
As the elderly population grows with increasing life expectancy, the state must also change its planning and approach towards older people, the minister said.
Government employees currently have the opportunity to retire at 59, while many private organisations allow retirement at somewhat higher ages.
He said abruptly separating a capable person from working life could have negative effects on mental health.
“Until today, a person who has regularly attended office is told from tomorrow that there is no need to come to office anymore. This change is psychologically difficult for a working person. Through this transition, a person should be given the opportunity to gradually adapt to a new life,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for fresh planning for post-retirement life, saying people could continue working informally, contributing to society and sharing their experience even after formal employment ended.
Age should not be a barrier if a person has the desire, ability and opportunity to work, he said.
Many elderly people possess professional experience that cannot be gained in a day through books or academic degrees, making their knowledge a valuable asset for the younger generation.
“Experience has no alternative. A person may obtain a PhD and study extensively, but it takes time to gain real-life experience. Our elderly people have that experience. It is the responsibility of the state and society to create opportunities to utilise their knowledge and wisdom,” he said.
He said elderly people also possess experiences that the present generation could never acquire even if it wanted to.
Referring to the Liberation War, he said the present generation could not return to that period, while the experiences of people who directly witnessed the war remained an important national asset.
Zahid Hossain also stressed the need to ensure the wellbeing of elderly people through specialised healthcare, counselling and other necessary services.
He said elderly services should not remain confined to one or a few centres in Dhaka but should be expanded to remote areas.
The government should ensure minimum-standard elderly services at district and upazila levels across all 64 districts, he said, stressing that the growing elderly population required coordinated efforts by government institutions, private organisations and people from all sections and professions.
The most important issue in providing services to older people was their availability and accessibility, the minister said, adding that necessary services must reach district and upazila levels instead of remaining Dhaka-centric.
The government was reviewing the issue afresh and implementing initiatives gradually, he said.
Regarding social safety-net programmes, the minister said the government had expanded the coverage of various allowances and safety-net programmes for elderly people after taking office.
Compared with fiscal year 2025-26, both the amount of various allowances and the number of beneficiaries had increased in 2026-27, he said.
He said elderly people were also being given due importance in the Family Card programme, under which financial assistance through female family members would strengthen household economic security while enhancing women’s financial empowerment.
The government was working to take social protection benefits to the grassroots rather than keeping them city-centric, with initiatives to strengthen implementation through Department of Social Services officials at district, divisional and upazila levels.
The minister urged elderly people to support the government with their experience and advice, saying their practical knowledge and opinions could make government policies and programmes more effective.
He assured that their views would be given due importance without political or religious divisions and said the government would work for their welfare with advice and cooperation from people of all sections and professions.
Earlier, Zahid Hossain joined a rally organised by the Department of Social Services to mark the International Day of Older Persons.
The ministry secretary, director general of the Department of Social Services, president and general secretary of an elderly people’s organisation, relevant officials, elderly personalities and people from different sections and professions attended the programme.
This year’s theme of the International Day of Older Persons was “New thinking for a long life”. In line with the theme, the programme focused on the dignity, rights, healthcare and social security of elderly people and the use of their experience for national development.
