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BSS-65
OLDER-DAY-TOMORROW
International Day of Older Persons tomorrow
DHAKA, Sept 30, 2020 (BSS) – The International Day of Older Persons will be observed with the theme ‘The message of global pandemic, a new dimension in serving the older persons’ through various programmes in the country tomorrow like elsewhere in the globe.
On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the country’s all senior citizens and wished sound health and peaceful life for them.
In the message, President Abdul Hamid said “I’m very much delighted to learn that the International Day of Older Persons is going to be observed in the country like elsewhere in the world. I think this year’s theme for the day is appropriate”.
Highlighting the present government’s initiatives for the welfare of the elderly people, including old-age allowance , The Parents Maintenance Act-2013 and National Policy on Older Persons -2013 the President said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had inserted the Article 15 (D) in the Constitution of Bangladesh for ensuring social security of the country’s helpless senior citizens.
Hamid called upon the non-government organisations along with the government to protect the rights of the elderly people.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken an initiative to implement the National Policy for Elderly and form an ‘elderly development foundation’ to increase the facilities for the senior citizens.
Awami League government is implementing different programmes for the overall welfare of the senior citizens the premier said, adding that some programmes of the government have already earned acclamation in international arena.
“In the coronavirus pandemic, I specially request the elderly people to follow health guidelines, including maintaining social distancing, using masks outside the home and washing hands regularly,” she added.
The President and the Prime Minister wished all-out success of all programmes of the day.
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.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his message said: “The world marks the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons as we reckon with the disproportionate and severe impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on older persons around the world – not only on their health, but on their rights and well-being”.
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.
This year, the UN is going to observe the 30th anniversary of the day with the theme “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?”
BSS/PR/TIT/ARS/2239 hrs