Dhaka, Oct. 7 -- The number of senior citizens (aged 60 and above) in Bangladesh is projected to rise to 50 million, covering about app00over 20 percent of the country's population, by 2050, Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof. Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain said on Wednesday.

Currently, around 16 million people (1.6 crore), close to one-tenth of the country's population, are aged 60 or above, he said.

The minister also said Bangladesh has recorded the highest increase in average life expectancy globally over the past 25 years.

The average life expectancy, currently 74.9 years, is expected to rise to around 80 years, he said.

He made the remarks while speaking at a discussion organised by the Department of Social Serv...