The Cabinet Division of the government with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Australian Aid, launched the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) Action Plan on 04 November 2018, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at a National Conference on Social Security Programme.

The launching ceremony was followed by a three-day Social Security fair on social protection where recent issues and achievements of different social protection implementing agencies of the government and NGOs are participating, which ends on 06 November.

The three-day event will highlight the government initiatives to reform social protection system of the country.

While speaking as the chief guest, Social Welfare Minister, Rashed Khan Menon said, “I must welcome the efforts of the Cabinet Division and the Central Management Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary for completing the formulation of the NSSS action plan.” 

He continued that Bangladesh has done the commendable task of halving the number of people living under the poverty line. “We aim to take it down to 5-10 percent within 2021.”

M.A. Mannan, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Planning emphasized on Goal 1 of the SDGs and said “ Government is continuing the fight with poverty until we completely eradicate poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” 

Julia Niblett, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh in her remarks said, “Social protection enable the poor to purchase enough food so that they can work hard and to purchase assets to invest in income generating activities.”

Dr Simone Field, Livelihoods and Nutrition Adviser- DFID, Bangladesh, lauded Bangladesh for adapting the lifecycle approach and pointed out that, “Globally, social protection is rising up in the development agenda.”

“We all need to work together to show that we are serious about social reform in Bangladesh,” she added.

“The lifecycle approach helps Bangladesh, to attain the Global Agenda 2030, leaving no one behind” said Sudipto Mukerjee, Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh. He highlighted Bangladesh’s strong political commitment to become a welfare state, which means the state as a provider of social to its citizens.

Earlier Dr Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economic Division made the keynote presentation on National Social Security Strategy Action Plan, while Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Cabinet Secretary, chaired the inaugural session.

Among others AK Mohiuddin Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division, N M Zeaul Alam Secretary, Coordination and Reforms, Cabinet Division, Md Faizul Islam National Project Director, Social Security Policy Support Programme of UNDP spoke at the event.