The National Conference on Social Protection 2025, held in Dhaka, marked a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s journey toward building an inclusive, resilient, and rights-based social protection system. Convened by the Cabinet Division with support from UNDP and DFAT, the three-day conference brought together policymakers, development partners, academics, civil society leaders, and practitioners to reflect on the achievements of the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) 2015–2026 and to chart a bold and transformative course for its next generation outlooks.
The conference opened with a powerful address by honorable Chief Guest, Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, who reminded the nation that no country is too poor to guarantee the essentials of life. He emphasized that social protection must be rooted in Social Justice not equal income, but equal access to education, health, and security. His call for universal, phased coverage set the tone for a conference that was both reflective and forward-looking.
Throughout the sessions, speakers acknowledged the progress made: over 50 percent of the population now benefits from social protection, and 14 percent of the national budget is allocated to these programs. Yet, they also highlighted persistent challenges, including fragmentation, targeting errors, and exclusion of vulnerable groups such as informal workers, urban poor, and persons with disabilities. Ms. Zaheda Parveen, Secretary of the Cabinet Division, underscored the need for every dollar to reach the right person, at the right time, in the right way; a commitment echoed across the conference.
Digital innovations such as the Single Registry System (SRS) and Dynamic Social Registry (DSR) were presented as transformative tools to improve targeting and reduce leakages. Mr. Mohammad Khaled Hasan in his keynote presentation and emphasized that technology must be matched by governance and human capacity. Urban poverty, climate-induced migration, and demographic shifts were identified as emerging challenges requiring tailored and adaptive responses. Mr. Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, reminded delegates that Bangladesh’s social protection roots lie in disaster response, and called for systems that anticipate and absorb shocks.
The National Conference on Social Protection 2025 addressed six foundational dimensions of social protection: inclusive coverage for marginalized groups including women, persons with disabilities, and the urban poor; lifecycle-based program design; adaptive and shock-responsive systems; sustainable financing through contributory models; digital innovation for delivery and targeting; and institutional governance reform. These themes were not merely discussed—they were interrogated through a series of working sessions, keynote addresses, and dynamic exchanges among policymakers, practitioners, and civil society leaders. The result was a policy forum of unprecedented depth and scope, positioning NCSP 2025 as one of the most comprehensive convenings on social protection in Bangladesh’s recent history.
What made this conference particularly groundbreaking was its participatory architecture. For three consecutive days, a digital feedback mechanism—anchored in QR code technology—enabled real-time engagement from a wide spectrum of attendees. Questions, concerns, and suggestions were collected continuously, ensuring that the voices of participants were not only heard but systematically documented. These inputs have been consolidated and mapped to thematic priorities, forming a critical evidence base for the next-generation social protection framework. The full compilation of audience queries and recommendations is available in the annex of the conference report, serving as both a record of public discourse and a guide for future policy formulation.
The conference culminated in the adoption of the “Pact for Prosperity,” a declaration committing to universal lifecycle coverage by 2030, increased fiscal allocation to 2.5 percent of GDP, and the creation of a “Bonsai Liberation Fund” to empower five million marginalized citizens; a metaphor inspired by Muhammad Yunus, reminding us that the poor are not weak, they are constrained.
The conference concluded with a resounding sense of shared purpose, as government leaders and development partners reaffirmed their collective commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient social protection system. In her closing remarks, Chief Guest Ms. Sharmeen S. Murshid delivered a powerful message that captured the spirit of the entire gathering. With optimism and clarity, she reminded the nation: “We are not here to manage poverty; we are here to end it. We are not here to rescue the vulnerable; we are here to empower them. We are not here to govern a few; we are here to serve many.” Her words echoed across the hall, anchoring the conference in a bold and transformative vision. Bangladesh, she declared, must not only survive—it must lead. Lead with compassion, with courage, and with conviction. A nation where protection and empowerment are not opposing forces but twin pillars of progress. A nation where every citizen is safe, respected, and free to dream.
