Three-day national conference opens with call for equitable society

The Government of Bangladesh has inaugurated the National Conference on Social Protection 2025 under the theme "A journey towards an equitable society" at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Organised by the Cabinet Division with technical support from UNDP Bangladesh's Social Security Policy Support Programme and funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia, the three-day event has brought together senior policymakers, development partners, academics, and civil society leaders. The conference comes at a crucial time as the National Social Security Strategy (2015–2026) nears its conclusion and Bangladesh prepares to design the next-generation framework for social protection.

Mohammad Khaled Hasan, additional secretary, presented the keynote paper highlighting the need for inclusive and rights-based social protection strategies.

Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, adviser to the Ministry of Planning, attended the event as chief guest and stressed the urgency of policy reforms. "This is the time to act. Social protection is not only an economic imperative; it is a moral responsibility. As a middle-income country preparing to graduate from LDC status, Bangladesh has no excuse not to build a universal system that ensures dignity and security for all," he said.

The three-day programme will discuss lessons from a decade of reforms and identify priorities for the future, including inclusive allowances, labour and livelihood interventions, food security, adaptive measures to climate shocks, and gender-responsive strategies. The use of digital innovations such as dynamic registries and shock-responsive systems will also be explored.

Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, adviser to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, said adaptive and shock-responsive protection remains fundamental. "Social protection in Bangladesh began with disaster response, and making communities disaster-resilient remains the strongest form of protection," he noted.

Stefan Liller, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, reaffirmed development partners' commitment, while Clinton Pobke, deputy high commissioner of the Australian government, highlighted Australia's support for an inclusive and climate-resilient system.

Cabinet secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, who chaired the inaugural session, emphasised the government's determination to build a just and inclusive framework. Zaheda Parveen, secretary of coordination and reform at the Cabinet Division, delivered the welcome address. Other speakers included Michal Krejza, head of cooperation of the European Union delegation to Bangladesh, Monzur Hossain, member of the Planning Commission, and Dr Md Mokhles ur Rahman, senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.

The closing session on 3 September will feature Sharmeen S Murshid, adviser for social welfare, as chief guest, with Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf, secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, as chair. The conference is expected to deliver consolidated recommendations that will guide the next-generation strategy for social protection in Bangladesh.