(BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmin S Murshid today said it is very urgent to forge unity between younger generation and elderly people to make Bangladesh a welfare country=.

Both young and old people can contribute to building an economically advanced country through giving their combined efforts, she said here.

The Adviser said these while addressing a program organized by the Nabin-Prabin Anto:Projonmo Milan Mela-2025 at Pallima Sangsad Conference Hall in Khilgaon, in the capital

Eminent educationist and economist Professor Anu Muhammad, Director General of the Department of Social Services Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Additional Director M M Mahmudullah and General Secretary of Bangladesh Senior Citizen Forum Saiduzzaman Chapal spoke as special guests at the event.

“We will understand the problems of the elderly in our homes, families or society, try to solve those problems and extend a hand of hope to them. Because the two generations, young and old, are not separate . . . the young of today will be the elderly of tomorrow," she said.

Sharmin S Murshid said the work of the Ministry of Social Welfare is sensitive and the scope of work is vast. The responsibility of the ministry is to provide service to the marginalized people of this country, she added.

The Adviser said, “We have increased the old age allowance to 61 lakh, the widow`s allowance to 35 lakh and the amount of all allowances has been increased, as everyone knows. In addition, initiatives have been taken to create 600 more clubs for the elderly, in addition to 400 clubs with foreign funding.”