Advisor to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Sharmin S. Murshid said that the future Bangladesh should be built by capturing the spirit of July. She said that the public welfare services of the Ministry of Social Welfare should be delivered to the doorsteps of the neglected and backward communities at the grassroots level. Only then will the reputation of the ministry spread.
She said this in her speech as the chief guest at a program titled 'Self-Examination' organized on the occasion of the inauguration of National Social Service Day 2026 at the Madhumoti Auditorium of the Department of Social Services in Agargaon in the capital today.
Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid said that good governance is our goal; for this purpose, we have started working to restore good governance by changing the structure of the ministry in the last one and a half years. After assuming responsibility, it took a long time to create a database of actual allowance recipients. It took time to correct the errors that had existed in the receipt of allowances by actual allowance recipients.
The irregularities so far could not complete the list of verification and selection within this period. However, we have been able to start and complete 80 percent of the list of beneficiaries. They are receiving regular allowances. Initiatives should be taken to create a database of orphan children in orphanages.
Then we will be able to deliver the capitation grant to the orphanages in a smooth and phased manner, he mentioned.
The advisor said, we must have the courage to eliminate irregularities. There must be a monitoring system, then the qualitative change in work will increase. He said, Bangladesh is now on the path of change.
National Social Service Day 2026 is celebrated every year on January 2. This time, in tribute to the 3-day state mourning declared on the death of the three-time successful Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the uncompromising national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, 'National Social Service Day 2026' will be celebrated in a colorful and solemn atmosphere on January 3, 2026 (Saturday) instead of January 2. The day is celebrated through various programs at the district and upazila levels across the country, including the head office of the Department of Social Services.
This year, the main theme of the day has been set as “Technology and Compassion, Welfare and Equality; Trust in Social Service Today”.
The day’s program began with the auspicious inauguration of the National Social Service Day 2026 by hoisting the national flag and releasing pigeons and balloons, symbols of peace, at 9:30 am under the management of the Ministry of Social Welfare. Advisor to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Sharmin S Murshid was present as the chief guest at the event. Secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf was present as the special guest. Director General of the Department of Social Services Md. Saidur Rahman Khan presided over the event.
This year, two exceptional and significant sessions were held outside the traditional format. The first session of the program included a special session titled ‘Self-Discovery’, where the depth of service work and human values were discussed. The second session of the program was ‘Caring Society: Young-Old Conversation’.
In this phase, the experienced elders were bridged with the current generation and views were exchanged on social responsibility.
The program emphasized on bringing dynamism and transparency to the work of the Ministry of Social Welfare. In the speech of the chief guest, the Social Welfare Advisor also said that the state does not mean just the government, the state means creating a favorable environment through the collective efforts of everyone.
We have come through a mass uprising where the youth have demanded equal opportunities based on merit, not quota. The Ministry of Social Welfare must now be taken to that place of fairness based on merit.
The program was moderated by the Director General of the Department of Social Services, Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf, was present as a special guest. At the program, senior officials of the ministry, officers and employees of different levels of the department and service recipients, media workers and representatives of civil society expressed their opinions on the services and activities of the Department of Social Services.
Senior officials of the ministry, officials and employees of all levels of the Ministry of Social Welfare and its subordinate departments/agencies, as well as the Department of Social Services, and invited dignitaries were present at the event.
