Although the elderly people account for seven percent of the total population, the media do not highlight their contribution adequately, they said.

The Bangladesh Association for the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine organised the workshop 'Healthy ageing and media' in the city in association with the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs.

Presenting the keynote paper, Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman, secretary general of Bangladesh Association for the Aged, said the people usually see the elderly as frail, impatient and dependent. Such attitude must be changed, he added.

The media also disseminate very little information about the elderly people, their rights and achievements, health condition, income and family status, he said.

He called on the media to air and publish more reports on the elderly people regularly as they have a lot of contribution to society.

The newspapers can bring out special page for them and the electronic media can broadcast live programmes, documentary and talk show on them, he suggested.

Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Shaikh Abdus Salam, chairman of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University, said, "We should consider the elderly people as a blessing for society and the media should raise awareness about them."

He urged the association to hold more dialogues and view exchange meetings with journalists, editors and the policymakers to sensitise them to the issue.

Association President Dr Rashid Ahmed and MA Baset, an administrative officer at the health ministry, also spoke.