The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cleared the draft on Sunday.

Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the regulation will define those as 60 years of age or more as elderly people eligible for benefits meant for senior citizens.

Musharraf said with the rise in average life expectancy and number of elderly people is going up.

The social welfare ministry has proposed the regulation to ensure a dignified, healthy and safe life for the elderly citizens, he said.

The regulation will implement a number of benefits for the elderly citizens including identity cards, health cards, old home and day care centres.

Reserved seats in buses and offering tickets at discounts are proposed in the regulation.

Projects to benefit poor elderly citizens will also be adopted.

Private entrepreneurship by the elderly people will also be promoted.

To implement the regulation, a national committee will be formed under social welfare ministry, the Cabinet Secretary said.

The committee will have a sub-committee in each ward, Upazila and district.

The committee will make a list of elderly people and ensure they get the benefits.