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Union Social Service Office

The Department of Social Services is one of the other nation-building institutions of the government. Although social welfare activities started in the country in 1955, the Directorate of Social Services was established in 1981. The Directorate created in the sixties has been upgraded to the Department of Social Services today.

 

The activities of this department were initially city based and service oriented. In the course of time, the activities of this department have now expanded to the grassroots level across the country. The Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare has been working tirelessly to strengthen the social safety net with comprehensive and multifaceted programs for the welfare and development of the destitute, neglected, backward, poor, orphans, autistic and disabled and backward people of the society.

 

After the partition of the country in 1947, various social problems arose in the then provincial capital Dhaka, including slum problems. In order to solve these problems, hospital social service activities were undertaken in 1955 under the Urban Community Development Board, Dhaka under the Urban Community Development Office and the Social Welfare Council. The Directorate of Social Welfare was established in 1981 under the Bengal Nomadic Act of 1943, the Orphans and Widows' House Act of 1944 and the State Orphanage (Government Children's Family). Later, due to the extensive expansion and expansion of social service activities, it was upgraded as a permanent nation-building department of the government in 1986 and was recognized as the Department of Social Services in 1984.

 

In the light of Article 15 (d) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, this Department is recognized as a pioneer in playing an important role in implementing the intentions of the Government to fulfill the constitutional obligations for the various backward classes of the country. The role of this department in introducing old age allowance, widow and husband abandonment distressed women allowance, allowance for indigent persons with disabilities, education stipend for students with disabilities, freedom fighter honorarium allowance, natural disaster and risk management program etc. is widely appreciated in the country and abroad.

 

The Probation of Offenders Ordinance in 1980, the Registration and Control Ordinance in 1981, the Nomads and Homeless Persons (Rehabilitation) Act in 2013, the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013 to bring various programs under institutional and sustainable status and state responsibilities. It has been responsible for formulating and implementing a significant number of laws and policies, including the Special Benefits Act for women convicted in prisons.

 

This department is working relentlessly for the implementation of various national and international charters or conventions including the United Nations. It is playing an active role in the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, etc. Initially working with a Welfare Approach, the Department is now pursuing new activities with a Right Based and Empowerment Approach.

 

By implementing a significant number of development projects and programs, the department is expanding its reach to the target population and setting a unique example of public-private partnership (limited government support for private sector projects). The department has self-interested efforts in conducting advocacy activities through the celebration of various nationally and internationally recognized days and years.

 

The Hon'ble Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh declared January 2 as 'National Social Service Day' at the inauguration of Samajseva Bhaban in 1999 to encourage the social workers engaged in this huge work in terms of social philosophy and development strategy. The cabinet meeting on June 4, 2012 declared January 2 as 'National Social Service Day' and listed the day as 'B' category. By celebrating this day, new momentum and vitality has come in the social service program and the social workers have been energized.

 

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