Govt may redefine senior citizens' age at 65 years

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Monday the age limit of considering an individual as a senior citizen should be changed - the threshold should be 65 years instead of existing 60 years.

"It should not be 60 years, but at least 65 years to regard someone as a senior citizen," he told a contract signing ceremony at a city hotel.

Department of Social Services (DSS) and Universal Medical College and Hospital (UMCH) signed the agreement for development of a senior citizen's resort, "Obosor, My Dream Land", at Srimangal under Moulvibazar district.

DSS director general Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir and UMCH chairman Priti Chakraborty signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

The resort would be the first of its kind in the country to be developed under the public private partnership (PPP) initiative.

Responding to a proposal by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at the function, the finance minister invited the social welfare ministry to submit a proposal for reviewing the present definition of senior citizens and their age limit since the life expectancy crosses 70 years.

Replying to a question, he ruled out any possibility that the change, if approved, would bring any change to the retirement age of the public servants.

On November 17 in 2013, the cabinet had approved the National Policy on Older Persons, recognising the people aged above 60 years as senior citizens.

The home minister said that the younger people should give time to their seniors in the elders' homes to share their experiences. He said the existing 60 years should be raised as the life expectancy rate in the country has already gone up.

Among others, State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan, State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed and Social Welfare Secretary M Zillar Rahman were present at the ceremony.

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