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Published : 16 Apr 2026, 10:25 PM
A high-level policy dialogue on building an inclusive and sustainable long-term care (LTC) system in Bangladesh has underscored the growing urgency of addressing the needs of the country’s ageing population.
Titled “Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Long-Term Care (LTC) System in Bangladesh”, the dialogue was held in Dhaka on Apr 16, 2026, bringing together senior government officials, development partners, private sector representatives and civil society actors.
Jointly organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and AYAT Education Foundation, the event highlighted the need for a coordinated national response to demographic changes through a structured care system.
State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin said developing a sustainable care system requires joint efforts from the government, private sector and partners, adding that the sector can provide both social support and employment opportunities.
Social Welfare Secretary Mohammad Abu Yusuf stressed the need to ensure quality care with dignity, while addressing the shortage of trained nurses and caregivers through investment in training and institutional development.
ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong said strengthening family- and community-based care systems and recognising the economic potential of the sector are key to building a “silver economy”.
According to the statement, participants said the lack of clear policies and regulatory frameworks remains a major challenge for private sector involvement, and called for structured planning to expand services such as home-based care and assisted living.
They also emphasised the need to integrate caregiving into education and training systems to build a skilled workforce.
Key priorities identified at the dialogue included reducing the burden of unpaid care work on women, adopting a people-centred approach, and increasing investment in the care economy, the statement said.
The discussion drew on findings from a country diagnostic study on long-term care and focused on building a coordinated and sustainable system.
In the media statement, organisers said the dialogue aimed to strengthen collaboration and advance policy actions to develop a comprehensive long-term care framework in Bangladesh.
