Ageing Population of Bangladesh: An Emerging Challenge

The image of old age in Bangladesh is associated with graying of hair, wrinkling of skin, with poor physical health, and decreased ability to work. The common expression “bura hoechi”, to be aged, means to be limited in terms of performing economically productive activities, known as ‘work’. For ‘old-old’ age, there is a saying, “uthan akhon onek dure”, which literally means “even the courtyard is like a very distant place.” This takes the notion: even a courtyard becomes a place hard to reach by an old person. A common proverb in the form of rhyme is “jokhon hobe sathi hate porbe lathi.” This translates as “when you are sixty you are likely to need a stick in your hand.” The deterioration of the physical state associated with ageing is reinforced in saying “jokhon hobe ashi tokhon sob basi,” which means “when you are eighty you feel everything in past”.