By Gazi Shahadat Hossain Badal from Manikganj
The International Day of the older persons is celebrated throughout the world with different events. The 2021 theme of this international day is `Digital Equity for All Ages’ which affirms the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by the older persons. On the eve of this day BARCIK organized a discussion session in the auditorium of Green Flower KG School at Betila Mitra Union of Manikgonj district recently.
The discussion session was chaired by prominent social worker and veteran rights activist and freedom fighter Abdul Mannan. Special guests of the discussions included Betila Mitra Union Parishad’s long-running UP member and panel chairman for three decades participated in the discussion. women UP member Jahanara Begum, BARCIK regional coordinator Bimal Roy, UP member Md. Ronnie Dewan, former UP member Mr. Bellal Hossain, BARCIK officials Officer Md. Shimul Kumar Biswas, Md. Nazrul Islam and Md. Shahinur Rahman.
The discussants while depicting the contribution of older persons said, ‘The government has made older persons’ policies. This policy is key weapon to encourage the people to take care of their older parents so that they could have a good treatment in the family. We also demand allowance for all older persons and increase the amount of the allowance so that they could live with peace. They went on saying, `the older persons have contributed in the progress and development of the country and their experience and knowledge are important for the new generation to lead their life and establish a developed society and state.Thus, we should express gratitude to the older persons for their contribution.’
It is to be mentioned that the number of older persons in Bangladesh is huge in numbers. The older people have made a great contribution to the society and family of this country. Bangladesh will celebrate its golden Jubilee of its independence in 2021. We should remember that many of these older people took part in the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 and presented us an independent country.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin