DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken steps to accelerate services to the elderly people by forming a foundation for ensuring happy and peaceful life of elderly persons of the country.

She said government has increased allocation to every sector of social safety net including medical treatment and health allowances for the elderly persons.

On Tuesday, the premier came up with the comments in a message on the eve of the International Day of Older Persons- 2014.

The international day is being observed across the country as elsewhere around the globe with the theme of "Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All".

Both the government and NGOs as well as local and international charities have chalked out various programmes to observe the day.

President Abdul Hamid has also given separate message on the eve of the day urging all to endorse the dignity and rights of elderly persons.

He said the elderly persons are respected people and they have immense contributions to the development and progress.

It is the moral obligation of society to take proper steps so that the older people can live in peace, happiness and dignity in the rest of his or her life, he added.

BDST: 1010 HRS, OCT 01, 2014