Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid today spoke as the chief guest at a programme titled “Atmo Anusandhan” at the Madhumati auditorium of Department of Social Services at Agargaon, Dhaka. Photo : PID

DHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid today called for building future Bangladesh being imbued with the spirit of July Uprising. 
 
She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme titled “Atmo Anusandhan”, organised on the occasion of the inauguration of National Social Service Day 2026, at the Madhumati auditorium of Department of Social Services at Agargaon here. 

She said welfare-oriented services of the Ministry of Social Welfare must reach the doorsteps of neglected and underprivileged communities at the grassroots level; only then ministry’s reputation will truly flourish.

Social Welfare Secretary Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf was present as the special guest with Department of Social Services Director General Md Saidur Rahman Khan in the chair.

Noting good governance is their primary goal; Sharmeen said work began over the past one and a half years to restore good governance by restructuring the ministry. 

After assuming office, it took a long time to create a database of the genuine allowance recipients, she said adding it also took time to rectify the longstanding errors in ensuring that allowances actually reached the rightful beneficiaries. 

“We have now been able to start the process and have completed about 80 percent of the beneficiary list. They are receiving their allowances regularly,” said the adviser.

She said an initiative must be taken to create a database of orphan children in orphanages. This will enable us to deliver the orphanage capitation grants in a proper and phased manner, she added.

This year’s theme of the social services day was “With technology and compassion, welfare and equity; trust now lies in social service.”
Senior officials of the ministry and its departments or agencies  were present at the event.