Princh Mondal Olif, Bagerhat District Correspondent:
The International Day of Older Persons was observed in Mongla, Bagerhat, on Thursday, October 1, with a series of programmes highlighting the value of older people's experience, wisdom and contributions to society.
The day was marked by a colourful rally, discussion meeting, cultural performances, sports activities, prize distribution and tree sapling distribution under the theme, “New Vision for Long Life.”
The rally started from Shelabunia in the morning, passed through several important roads in Mongla and returned to its starting point. Later, a discussion meeting was held at the local St. Paul's Missionary Hall.
Mongla Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Arthita Howlader attended the programme as the chief guest. Special guests included Father Philip Mondal, parish priest of St. Paul's Catholic Church; Father Ripon Sardar, assistant parish priest; and Robin Goldar, Junior Project Officer of the Caritas SDDB Project.
Organised by Caritas Bangladesh, the programme brought together older members from eight local clubs. Cultural performances and various sporting activities were also arranged for the participants.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Arthita Howlader said older people should not be regarded as a burden on society. Their knowledge, wisdom and life experiences can serve as valuable lessons for younger generations.
She stressed the need to raise awareness among young people about respecting older persons and recognising their contributions. She added that younger generations could draw on the experiences of older people to overcome future challenges and move forward in life.
The programme concluded with the distribution of prizes among winners of different sporting events. Tree saplings of various species were also distributed among the older participants.
News Published By:
Bangladesh Diary
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