As the chief guest of the concluding event, Sharmeen S. Murshid, Hon’ble Adviser, Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, called for a rights-based approach to underpin social protection. “Social safety nets are not charity; they are justice achieved against hunger and despair. Let us build a new social contract where protection and empowerment walk hand in hand, ensuring every citizen is safe, respected, and free to dream,” she said.

Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Cabinet Secretary, who chaired the closing session, reiterated the government’s commitment. “When a large portion of our people remain unsupported, none of us can truly say we are safe. Growth without justice is not growth at all. We are determined to take these recommendations forward in shaping the post-2026 national strategy. The lessons drawn here will guide us in building a system that truly leaves no one behind.”

Development partners also reaffirmed their support. Sonali Dayaratne, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh, stressed: “The UN Secretary-General’s latest SDG report reminds us that while progress is real, nearly half of the global targets are moving too slowly and many are in reverse.”

She further added, “As Bangladesh approaches 2026, the insights and recommendations from this conference will serve as a foundation for shaping the next generation of social protection policies and programs. I am pleased that these priorities and potential interventions are closely aligned with UNDP’s Social Protection Offer 2.0.”

Syed Haider, First Secretary and Head of Development, Australian High Commission, Dhaka, Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare, Dr. Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary), General Economics Division, Bangladesh Planning Commission, Ms. Mamtaz Ahmed, NDC, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Ms. Murshida Sharmin, Joint Secretary, Coordination Wing, Cabinet Division were also present at the session.

Organised by the Cabinet Division with technical support from UNDP’s Social Security Policy Support (SSPS) Programme and support from the Government of Australia through DFAT, the three-day gathering brought together senior policymakers, development partners, academics, civil society leaders, and grassroots voices.

Throughout the day, participants explored two key themes through parallel sessions: Gender in Social Protection, which examined strategies for women’s empowerment and resilience, and Voices from the Ground: NGO Perspectives on Social Protection Reform, which brought forward lessons from disability inclusion and community-level experiences.

The conference ended with a clear consensus that building an equitable society requires not only stronger safety nets but also pathways that empower citizens, enhance resilience, and ensure dignity for all.

The final declaration, presented by Mohammad Khaled Hasan, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division urged sustainable contributory models, wider coverage for the poor and ‘missing middle’, stronger resilience measures, greater social empowerment, lifecycle support, improved governance, and work on the next-generation National Social Protection Strategy.

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