Bangladesh makes train travel free for citizens aged 65 and above

They will have still to pay for metro rail fare, but senior citizens can also avail themselves of a 25 percent discount on those trips

Among the government’s new plans for social security and inclusive development in its proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, it has suggested making rail travel completely free for citizens above 65 years of age.

They will still have to pay for metro rail fare, but senior citizens can also avail themselves of a 25 percent discount on those trips.

Different allowances and incentives have been included in the interest of social security under the BNP government’s first budget on Thursday, including the much-discussed Family Card.

A section of the budget proposal aims to make trains completely free for senior citizens above 65 years of age and to also give them a 25 percent discount on metro rail fare.

The number of people who receive disability benefits has been increased to 3.8 million, while the monthly allowance has been raised to Tk 1,000.

The recipients of student disability allowances will be increased to 100,000, with the monthly allowance increased from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,400 at different levels.

Under the Mother and Child Assistance Programme, nearly 1.9 million mothers and children will be given Tk 850 per month.

One-time assistance for those suffering from six incurable diseases, including cancer, will be increased from Tk 50,000 to Tk 1,00,000.