by Bipul K Debnath

It was the rush hour for city commuters. He was sitting by me on a crowded public bus, near the Motijheel traffic signal.
Aroz Ali, 69, shared something with me that was very touchy and pathetic, indeed.
“I have no demands now, but I need someone to be there for me. At least say to me, ‘How are you?’, and that’s sufficient,” the former banker said. “Because of my successful efforts, my whole family is now living among the upper middle class and enjoying the status. But they have no time to look after me. When I become sick, my family members push me immediately to the hospital, though my doctors always give more importance on family care. I used to accompany my grandson to and from his school. I wish I were passing time with him. But it is never possible, as he has to be busy with his tutors and lessons. Needless to say, I am a lonely person amidst my family members,” Ali uttered.
Grief like his is very common, as  people nowadays are forced to remain busy with their jobs, and thus, fail to manage time for the elderly members of their family.
“During my study period at Dhaka University, I was an active women rights activist and popular among my counterparts. I was also a key entertainer for my friends. But now, I am 68 and nobody comes to see me, and thus, I am used to passing a gloomy life, which is really painstaking,” said Mita Debnath, a retired professional from Gopibagh.
On the other hand, 65-year-old MA Khaleque has a different outlook on life. He still inspires youths and guides them towards a better future. According to him, life is a series of journeys with different challenges, and we have to face them all with our active efforts.
“I was very strong in my young days. I had energy and didn’t hesitate to do anything. I took part in our great Liberation War without any hesitation. I was a very energetic boy. At the time, I was inspired by Kazi Nazrul Islam’s  poem ‘Bidrohi’. So, I thought of myself as a storm or a cyclone; as lightening and thunder. I was a great hero, I was courageous, I broke everything, I was a rebel, too. The young should understand the meaning of the rebel poem and build up their futures,” said Khaleque while sharing his life experience. “We have come to this world temporarily. So, we should not lament. Death must come today or tomorrow. None can save us from the hand of death. It is the universal truth. Youths should always opt for heroic things. That is the lifeline for young and old. And remember, youth doesn’t last forever,” the freedom fighter explained.
Senior citizens are assets of the nation. It should not be forgotten that once, they played vital roles for the next generation. It is obvious that they were the builders of our present development. However, they are being neglected each and every day. Our so-called modern society sees them as a burden, which is really pathetic.
“It does not mean that I have no passion for my aged parents. But I cannot help being busy with my jobs. Of course, I’m helpless in managing my time for them,” Dipen Das, a private job holder, explained about his incapability to pass time with his elderly parents.
Some time ago, our honorable president declared elderly people as ‘senior citizens’ of the country. The government has also passed a law on  the maintenance of elderly  parents.  There are many philanthropic organisations  providing care for senior citizens, which is praiseworthy. But we must all come forward to ensure a better life for them. It is time to give them love and care, and our time, without any delay. We should not forget that one day, we are going to be old, too.