The Constitution of Bangladesh provides for fundamental responsibility of the state to achieve the right to social security for deserving people (Article 15-D) which may be seen as a moral obligation for the Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) to endeavour for strengthening social security system of the country. Therefore, they need to keep abreast of latest policies and programmes of the government on social security. In this regard the most relevant document of the government is the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) of Bangladesh which was approved by the Cabinet in 2015.
The NSSS encompasses all the policy guidance and a long-term roadmap for reforming social protection system of the country. The Cabinet Division, overseeing effective roll out of the NSSS, collaborated with the parliament secretariat to organize the orientation workshop on it for the parliamentarians on 19 June 2019. The Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) while being briefed on salient features of the NSSS also made valuable recommendations on implementation of the strategy.
This report mainly contains the proceedings of the workshop summarizing important points and recommendations as made by the Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs). The orientation workshop was held in the Oath Room of Bangladesh Parliament. Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP was present as the Chief Guest at the workshop. Mr. Md. Fazle Rabbi Miah MP, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Bangladesh Parliament and Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury MP, Hon’ble Chief Whip, Bangladesh Parliament were also present at the workshop as Special Guests. Mr. Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Cabinet Secretary, chaired the workshop.
The workshop began with a welcome speech from the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Mohammad Shafiul Alam who also elucidated the main objectives of the workshop. Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP then delivered her speech as chief guest and formally inaugurated the proceedings of the workshop. The working sessions of the workshop started with a presentation on National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) by Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Division (GED). Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin, Senior Secretary (C&R), Cabinet Division, then gave a presentation on the Action Plan of the National Social Security Strategy. Principal Coordinator (SDG) of Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad also made a brief presentation titled ‘Social Security & SDGs’.
The Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) committed to provide their full support in implementing the NSSS and urged that planned measures for reducing exclusion and inclusion errors should be taken immediately. They also endorsed the plan for developing a central MIS/database for efficient management of social security systems. They also underscored the importance of strengthened coordination among local government and other relevant stakeholders in social security.
