Int’l Day of Older Persons today

The International Day of Older Persons is being observed in the country today (October 1) like elsewhere across the globe with the theme ‘The Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World’.

The International Day of Older Persons has been observed across the world since 1991 aiming to creating public awareness about old age along with ensuring security and rights for the senior citizens.

On December, 14 in 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106).

This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages greeting the country's all senior citizens and wished sound health and peaceful life for them.

President Abdul Hamid, in his message, said, “I welcome the initiative of observing the International Day of Older Persons in the country like elsewhere in the world. I think this year's theme for the day 'The Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World' is appropriate”.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had inserted Article 15 (Gha) in the Constitution of Bangladesh for ensuring social security of the country's senior citizens, he said.

To ensure a dignified, poverty-free, functional, healthy and secure family and social life for the elderly persons, the government has enacted the National Policy on Older Persons-2013 and the Parent's Care Act, 2013, the head of the state added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the Awami League (AL) government has taken various initiatives, including National Policy-2013 on Older Persons and the Parent's Care Act, 2013, for overall welfare of the elderly people.

“By using the knowledge and experience of seniors for the development of the country, we want to build the 'Sonar Bangladesh' as dreamt by the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Our government is continuously working towards this goal,” Sheikh Hasina said.
It will be possible to reach the desired goal if various development organizations and private organizations come forward for the welfare of the elderly people along with the government, she said.

She urged all to work together to keep senior citizens of the country safe.