Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman addressed a consultation meeting in the capital. Photo: PID

DHAKA, June 22, 2026 (BSS) – Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said that alongside laws and policies, social awareness must be enhanced with special emphasis to ensure the protection, dignity and rights of senior citizens.

“Due to age-related vulnerabilities, senior citizens often become even more helpless than children in many cases. He stressed that alongside the state, families and society must also play a responsible role in ensuring their welfare,” the minister said while addressing a consultation meeting titled “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day-2026” in the capital.

Organised by Resource Integration Centre (RIC), the meeting was held at YWCA auditorium in the city’s Mohammadpur area.

The minister, in his speech, noted that many incidents of neglect and abuse of elderly people cannot be prevented through law enforcement alone; rather, the development of social and moral values is essential to stop such practice.

“The government has taken various initiatives for the welfare of senior citizens. In the current fiscal year’s budget, free train travel has been introduced for citizens aged 65 years and above for the first time, along with a 25 percent fare discount on metro rail services. The allowance for senior citizens aged 90 years and above has been increased to Taka 1, 000,” he added.

Md Asaduzzaman urged relevant organisations to submit specific proposals to the government regarding necessary amendments to the Maintenance of Parents Act, 2013, and its Rules, 2023, aimed at strengthening the protection of the rights of senior citizens. He said the government would give due consideration to any legal reforms required for the welfare of elderly people.

The law minister further said that social awareness needs to be increased on issues such as preserving the ‘usufruct right’ in property transfers to protect the interests of senior citizens, so that they can ensure the use, possession and security of their assets during their lifetime.

Presided over by RIC Executive Director Abul Hasib Khan, the meeting was also addressed by Director General of the Department of Social Services Shah Mohammad Mahboob, Nari Pokkho member Shirin Parvin Haque, former chairperson of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Dr Halida Hanum Akhter, and FREB President Major General (Retd) Jiban Kanai Das, among others.

RIC-BMZ project national coordinator Tofazzal Hossain Monju presented the keynote speech at the meeting.