Dhaka:Bangladesh's average life expectancy has experienced the most significant increase globally over the past 25 years, according to Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof. Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister highlighted that the country's average life expectancy is currently 74.9 years and is expected to rise to around 80 years. He shared these insights during a discussion organized by the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare in Dhaka.
The number of senior citizens in Bangladesh, currently around 16 million, is projected to rise to 50 million by 2050, accounting for over 20 percent of the population. The minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that senior citizens lead healthy, secure, and dignified lives, urging for collective efforts by the government and society to support this demographic.
Zahid Hossain noted that existing allowances for disadvantaged individuals provided by the Ministry of Social Welfare are insufficient and called for an increase in these funds to benefit more senior citizens. He also mentioned that action plans and budgets are being implemented to meet the needs of people at all stages of life, from newborns to the elderly.
The theme for this year's International Day of Older Persons, observed on October 7 in Dhaka, was "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives." The minister underscored the necessity for societal support alongside government initiatives to enhance the wellbeing of the aging population.
Earlier in the day, Zahid Hossain participated in a rally organized by the Department of Social Services, which included participants from different age groups and commenced in front of the Agargaon Senior Citizens' Association.