Dhaka: The third meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Pension Authority was held today at the conference room of the Finance Adviser at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Chaired by Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, the meeting focused on enhancing the operational activities of the National Pension Authority. Dr. Ahmed serves as both the chairman of the Board of Directors and Adviser to the Ministries of Finance and Science and Technology. The Secretary of the Finance Division and other distinguished board members were also in attendance.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md. Mohiuddin Khan, Executive Chairman of the National Pension Authority, presented the agenda which included several pivotal issues. The board discussed the declaration of profit for FY 2024-25, revealing that the total deposited amount, combining monthly contributions and the opening balance, reached Taka 187,97,90,054.15. The profit for this fiscal year amounted to Taka 16,33,04,023.77, with the highest profit rate recorded at 11.61 percent. The profit will be distributed proportionately among contributors based on their investment duration.
The meeting also approved an increase in the contribution rate under the Surokkha Scheme, which targets self-employed individuals. To attract higher-income participants, the maximum contribution rate was raised from Taka 5,000 to Taka 15,000 per month.
Furthermore, under the Outsourcing Service Procurement Policy 2025, outsourced service workers are now eligible for the Universal Pension Scheme. They can enroll in the Pragati Scheme with a reduced minimum monthly contribution of Taka 500, making it more affordable. However, contributions will be solely borne by the workers without any input from their employing organizations.
The introduction of an Islamic version of the Universal Pension Scheme was also discussed, with the board emphasizing the need to review best practices and develop a concept paper for its launch. Additionally, the board advised an urgent actuarial analysis and concept paper preparation to assess the feasibility of integrating insurance benefits into the Universal Pension Scheme.