President Aznar, distinguished Heads of State and Government, Secretary General Kofi Annan, distinguished Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Mr. President,

Please accept my congratulation on your unanimous election to preside over the Second World Assembly on Ageing. I have no doubt that under your able and dynamic leadership this Assembly will achieve its desired objectives. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to the Government of Spain for hosting this important Conference and excellent arrangement in this beautiful city.

Mr. President,

The convening of the Second World Assembly on Ageing by the UN is timely as there is growing realization by the international community that like other social challenges ageing is also an important subject of concern for this century. There has been unprecedented demographic transitions taking place and majority of the world's older population reside in the developing countries. This development poses new challenges before the international community to deal with.

The future policies and programmes to improve the over all socio-economic well being of the aged both in the developed and developing countries must be dealt keeping in view the socio-cultural, economic and demographic realities of the new century, and also needs and perspectives of the developing countries.

In Bangladesh too, population above the age of sixty has reached over 7.2 million. Our present population growth rate being 1.7%, the aged population is likely to be doubled by next two decades. The life expectancy is increasing on account of improved health services, education and technology.

The ageing is also becoming a subject of concern for the national planners dealing with socio-economic programmes. In Bangladesh older people are revered and they hold a prominent position within the family and society based on our cultural values. We are noticing new trend as Bangladesh is moving towards industrialization, technological advances, patterns of employment is shifting. Our population is moving from rural to urban areas and creating social gap and more and more older people are being isolated in the villages.
 

Mr. President,

In Bangladesh we have constitutional guarantee of well-being for the older people. There are a number of targeted-programmes for the aged population. The present government is giving priority in the socio-economic development programs especially for the women. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in the Copenhagen Social Summit in 1995 had aptly expressed Bangladesh's commitment to the goals of the Copenhagen Declaration which seeks to promote social development that would be beneficial to both young and old.

We have also introduced social security and welfare programmes for the aged. These include, old age pension; allowance for the widows, distressed and deserted women; home for the distressed, abandoned and disabled aged. These public funded programmes have improved the quality of life of the needy aged persons. There are also projects designed to provide shelter, security, food, clothing, health and recreation services to the most distressed persons over 60, with the end to rehabilitate them.

Moreover, there is another project which is planned and designed to provide all modern facilities like medical care, recreation, communication network, relaxation and family touch for the aged persons of affluent background who are, unfortunately, leading a lonely, isolated, and depressed life at their homes despite having sufficient wealth at their disposal. Such situations arise due to breaking of families, migration of family members, changes in traditional family norms and values.
Also, a Disability Welfare Act has been enacted and a Special Foundation for the welfare of the disabled has been established aimed towards the disable older persons, socially disadvantaged and destitute women of all ages.

The Ministry of Social Affairs in Bangladesh is responsible for implementing these programmes to ensure the protection and integration of the socially disadvantaged segment of the population, including the aged. Also we have been successfully implementing non-formal education for the aged to empower them for alternative livelihood.
Moreover, Microcredit programmes have been successful in Bangladesh in alleviation of poverty and making women including the older women self-sufficient economically. We are now taking the success of Microcredit one step forward to utilize it for provision of shelter and livelihood and combining it with health-care, education, nutrition, family welfare services and community development, especially in the rural areas.
A large number of NGOs in Bangladesh are also working independently with their specific target-oriented programmes for the elderly both in urban and remote rural areas. There are also voluntary associations of the elderly people of Bangladesh which receive public contribution for their welfare programmes. The UN Commission for Social Development has accredited a number of Bangladesh's NGOs to this important conference who are also making valuable contribution in helping the aged population in Bangladesh.
 

Mr. President,

The United Nations document shows the rate of growth of aging population in developing countries is higher than that of the developed countries. Thus, developing countries including Bangladesh have shorter time to adapt the changes and address the concern of the ageing population in their respective countries.

My delegation calls for increased international cooperation, especially for improving the health facilities, education and development of economic support system for the elderly. During the course of our deliberations, we will learn from each other's experience in formulating a strategic plan on how to overcome the challenges before us.

Mr. President,

In developing countries we need to prioritize the following plan of action for the ageing population:
 

• Sound institutional framework, like laws, policies, guidelines etc,
• Introduction of universal health care especially for the older people,
• Long-term residential facilities for the dis-advantaged aged persons,
• Research on geriatrics assessing the needs of each society and culture,
• Social Security schemes including old age pension,
• Job-oriented re-training and re-education for elders who want to work,
• Ensuring equal opportunity for the elderly women,
• Promoting and encouraging NGOs devoted to the welfare of elders,
• Discounted rate for different requirements like transport, housing,
• Mass awareness for greater protection and social inclusion of older persons,
• Above all, exchange of ideas and information on best practices specially with developed countries where the older generation is already enjoying special privileges.

Mr. President

Before I conclude, I would like to add that my delegation will extend its cooperation in the adoption of the International Plan of Action. This would provide guidance to our policy makers to give due priority to the concern of ageing population. We expect that the follow up of the Assembly here in Madrid would be far-reaching and multifaceted. The Plan of Action on Ageing will have political, economic and social bearings. It is obvious that not all the strategies will suit the policy makers priority. They will have to select only those that will be appropriate for their respective countries.

I thank you, Mr. President.