Population ageing is a universal challenge faced by countries across the world. In developed nations, governments allocate substantial resources and provide comprehensive services to ensure that older persons can lead dignified, comfortable, and secure lives. However, elderly people in developing countries such as Bangladesh face far greater difficulties.
Traditionally, Bangladesh’s joint family system provided older persons with a degree of social and emotional support. However, as family structures increasingly shift toward nuclear households, the challenges faced by elderly citizens have become more visible and severe. With the rise of social media, incidents of elder abuse are now receiving greater public attention, exposing the alarming realities of neglect, mistreatment, and abandonment experienced by many older people. Recently, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed globally. Unfortunately, the issue did not receive adequate national attention in Bangladesh, and it remains unclear to what extent it was officially recognized and promoted.
Currently, Bangladesh is home to approximately 18 million older persons, and due to increasing life expectancy, this number is projected to reach 25 million by 2040. Today, both children and older persons each constitute roughly 10 percent of the country’s population. However, while significant budget allocations are made for children, the same level of commitment is not reflected in funding for older persons. According to the Bangladesh Government Budget Document 2025"26, the Ministry of Finance, UNICEF Bangladesh, and the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS), approximately 15 percent of the national budget is allocated to child-focused expenditures, whereas only about 5"6 percent is allocated to social protection programs benefiting older persons. This allocation primarily covers modest old-age allowances and limited welfare initiatives. Such a disparity is deeply concerning and reflects a significant policy imbalance. The welfare needs of older citizens deserve far greater recognition and investment.
Questions remain regarding whether the Government of Bangladesh has developed a comprehensive long-term strategy to address the growing needs of this expanding population group. The time to act is now. Failure to invest adequately in older persons will leave millions vulnerable, especially as the elderly population continues to grow and traditional family support systems weaken. Moreover, many adult children increasingly fail to fulfill their moral and social responsibilities toward ageing parents, further exacerbating the vulnerability of older persons.
Observed annually on June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day aims to raise awareness about physical, psychological, financial, and social abuse against older persons while promoting their rights, dignity, and well-being. One of the most pressing challenges faced by older persons in Bangladesh is economic insecurity. The majority of elderly citizens lack a regular source of income, pension coverage remains limited, particularly for those who spent their working lives in the informal and private sectors, and as a result, many older people become financially dependent on their children or relatives.
Unfortunately, while parents often make significant sacrifices and expenditures for their children throughout their lives, many children do not provide comparable support to their ageing parents, contributing to increasing poverty among older persons. Many elderly individuals are unable to afford healthcare expenses and frequently experience neglect, social exclusion, and psychological distress within their own families.
Among the many challenges confronting older persons, inadequate access to healthcare remains one of the most critical. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable to a range of chronic and age-related health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, arthritis and joint disorders, osteoporosis and bone degeneration, chronic back and knee pain, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and memory loss, Parkinson’s disease, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related vision impairment, hearing loss, kidney diseases, asthma and respiratory disorders, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), tuberculosis, cancer, prostate-related conditions among men, urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, insomnia and sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, malnutrition, constipation, dental and gum diseases, thyroid disorders, and falls and fractures resulting from physical frailty.
Given the prevalence of these age-related health conditions, the Government should ensure free or highly subsidized healthcare services for older citizens. Several factors contribute to increased health risks among older persons, including physiological changes associated with ageing, malnutrition, lack of physical activity and exercise, tobacco use, prolonged mental stress, inadequate health check-ups, loneliness, and social isolation.
To promote healthy ageing, older persons should be encouraged and supported to undergo regular medical check-ups, maintain a balanced and nutritious diet, engage in daily walking and light physical exercise, ensure adequate sleep and rest, avoid tobacco and smoking, remain socially and mentally active, and follow prescribed medical treatments and medications. Early diagnosis and continuous management of age-related illnesses are essential for improving the quality of life, independence, and well-being of older persons.
Bangladesh is at a critical demographic crossroads. The rapidly increasing elderly population demands urgent policy attention, enhanced social protection measures, and substantially increased budgetary allocations. Investing in older persons is not merely a welfare obligation, it is a matter of human dignity, social justice, and sustainable national development. The Government must prioritize comprehensive elderly care policies and significantly expand funding for healthcare, social security, and welfare services to ensure that every older citizen can live a life of dignity, security, and respect.
Most hospitals in Bangladesh still lack adequate elderly-friendly healthcare services, and there is a significant shortage of geriatric specialists. Regular health check-ups are often unavailable, the cost of medicines remains high, healthcare facilities in rural areas are limited, and mental and social isolation continues to affect many older persons. As joint family systems gradually disappear and nuclear families become more common, many elderly people suffer from loneliness. Moreover, as many children migrate to cities or abroad for employment, older parents often experience social isolation and live with depression and anxiety. Continuous neglect gradually diminishes their self-esteem, forcing them to endure emotional distress and physical suffering. In addition, the incidence of elder abuse is steadily increasing. Moral values are declining within society, and as a result, elderly women and men are becoming victims of various forms of physical abuse, psychological abuse, and financial exploitation.
Due to their physical vulnerability, many older persons are deceived, manipulated, or pressured into transferring ownership of their property to family members. A study conducted in Dhaka found that nearly 75 percent of older persons had experienced age-related discrimination, neglect, or unfair treatment at some point in their lives. Although the Government operates an Old Age Allowance Programme, the financial support provided is extremely limited and, in many cases, is barely sufficient to cover a few days' basic food expenses. Furthermore, a large number of elderly people remain excluded from the programme due to budgetary limitations and insufficient coverage.
The situation of elderly women in Bangladesh is comparatively more challenging, primarily because they possess significantly fewer economic assets and property rights. According to data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UN Women, substantial disparities exist between men and women in ownership of land and property in Bangladesh. Men own approximately 86 to 93 percent of land and property, whereas women own only about 7 to 12 percent. Consequently, elderly women face greater economic and social vulnerabilities.
Particularly in cases of widowhood, deprivation of inheritance and property rights, financial dependency, and unequal access to healthcare services, elderly women often spend their later years suffering from illness, poverty, and social exclusion. Although Bangladesh has made significant progress in becoming a digital nation, elderly women continue to face various forms of digital exclusion. Many lack access to modern technology and digital devices. In most households, family members own Android smartphones, yet it is frequently observed that elderly persons are not provided with such devices, even when the family is financially capable of doing so. Their recreational and social needs are also often overlooked. Many people assume that older persons should simply spend their time praying and engaging in religious activities, while paying little attention to their emotional and psychological well-being. As a result, elderly people frequently face barriers to accessing online healthcare services, participating in digital financial services, and obtaining essential information.
To address these challenges, increasing elderly-focused allocations within the national budget has become an urgent necessity. Enhancing the amount of old-age allowances and expanding the number of beneficiaries are critically important. The introduction of a universal social pension system, accompanied by widespread public awareness initiatives, is also essential. Establishing an Elderly Welfare Fund, ensuring elderly-friendly healthcare services, creating geriatric units in every district hospital, providing free health screenings, and introducing Elderly Health Cards should be recognized as fundamental human rights measures.
The Government also has a responsibility to effectively implement laws against elder abuse by establishing complaint hotlines, legal aid centres, and fast-track judicial mechanisms to protect the rights of older persons. Furthermore, elderly day-care centres should be established in every Upazilla to provide opportunities for recreation, social interaction, and community participation. The development of elderly-friendly cities and villages, including ramps, safe roads, accessible public spaces, and age-friendly transportation systems, is equally important.
Religious and social institutions should actively promote respect for older persons through awareness campaigns, community programmes, clubs, and organizations. The establishment of Elderly Support Youth Groups and the organization of cultural activities can also help strengthen inter-generational solidarity. The media in Bangladesh can play a crucial role in promoting positive messages regarding the rights and dignity of older persons and in conducting campaigns against elder abuse. Non-governmental organizations can contribute by implementing projects on elderly rights, organizing health camps, providing legal assistance, offering mental health counseling, and developing special programs for elderly women.
At the family and individual level, children have the foremost responsibility to ensure the rights, well-being, and dignity of their ageing parents. They should provide adequate food, healthcare, respectful treatment, recreational opportunities, and maintain regular contact and support. Respectful behaviour is not a favour but a fundamental right of every parent. Older persons possess valuable knowledge, wisdom, and life experience, and therefore should be included in family discussions and decision-making processes. Spending time with elderly family members, valuing their experiences, providing financial and emotional support, and including them in social activities are essential responsibilities of every child.
Finally, we urge the Government to strengthen legislation for the protection of older persons, introduce a universal elderly pension system, establish specialized elderly healthcare centres in every district, launch a national hotline for the prevention of elder abuse, develop special social protection programmes for elderly women, increase dedicated budget allocations for elderly welfare, and ensure elderly-friendly urban planning and public transportation. Additional budgetary support should be provided to encourage family-based elderly care initiatives, digital literacy programmes should be introduced for older persons, and educational institutions should incorporate lessons on respect for the elderly and humanitarian values into their curricula.
Older persons are repositories of our society’s knowledge, experience, and values. Neglecting or abusing them is not only a violation of human rights but also a source of shame for any civilized society. Through the collective efforts of the State, society, families, and individuals, it is possible to ensure a dignified, secure, and fulfilling life for all older persons. On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, let our commitment be: “Ensure Respect, Safety, and Rights for Older Persons.”
The author is the Executive Director of Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS)
