The three-day “National Conference on Social Protection 2025” has concluded, setting out a forward-looking roadmap to guide Bangladesh’s next-generation social protection framework beyond 2026.
On Wednesday, the concluding day of the conference at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC), Social Welfare Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid called for a rights-based approach to underpin social protection as the chief guest.
“Social safety nets are not charity; they are justice achieved against hunger and despair. Let us build a new social contract where protection and empowerment walk hand in hand, ensuring every citizen is safe, respected, and free to dream,” said Murshid.
The Cabinet Division with support from UNDP’s Social Security Policy Support (SSPS) Programme and Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), organised the three-day gathering, bringing together senior policymakers, development partners, academics, civil society leaders, and grassroots voices.
Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, who chaired the event, reiterated the government’s commitment, saying, “When a large portion of our people remain unsupported, none of us can truly say we are safe. Growth without justice is not growth at all. We are determined to take these recommendations forward in shaping the post-2026 national strategy. The lessons drawn here will guide us in building a system that truly leaves no one behind.”
Development partners also reaffirmed their support at the event.
“The UN Secretary-General’s latest SDG report reminds us that, while progress is real, nearly half of the global targets are moving too slowly and many are going in the opposite direction,” said Sonali Dayaratne, deputy resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh.
“As Bangladesh approaches 2026, the insights and recommendations from this conference will serve as a foundation for shaping the next generation of social protection policies and programmes. I am pleased that these priorities and potential interventions are closely aligned with UNDP’s Social Protection Offer 2.0,” she added.
First Secretary and Head of Development, Australian High Commission, Dhaka Syed Haider; Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf; Member (Secretary), General Economics Division, Bangladesh Planning Commission, Dr Monzur Hossain; NDC, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Mamtaz Ahmed; and Joint Secretary, Coordination Wing, Cabinet Division, Murshida Sharmin were also present at the session.
On the concluding day, participants explored two key themes through parallel sessions: “Gender in Social Protection”, which examined strategies for women’s empowerment and resilience, and “Voices from the Ground: NGO Perspectives on Social Protection Reform”, which brought forward lessons from disability inclusion and community-level experiences.The conference ended with a clear consensus that building an equitable society requires not only stronger safety nets but also pathways that empower citizens, enhance resilience, and ensure dignity for all.
The final declaration, presented by Mohammad Khaled Hasan, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division urged sustainable contributory models, wider coverage for the poor and ‘missing middle’, stronger resilience measures, greater social empowerment, lifecycle support, improved governance, and work on the next-generation National Social Protection Strategy.
