Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed authorities concerned to frame a universal pension scheme for the people aged above 60, including those worked in the non-formal sector in line with the electoral manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League.
She made the directive while witnessing a presentation of "Introduction of Universal Pension System'' at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The Finance Division made the presentation in the morning, said Prime Minister's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas.
“The Prime Minister directed to design a universal pension scheme for all the people aged above 60, who worked in public, private sectors and all sorts of informal sectors,” he said.
The premier also asked to set up an authority over the universal pension scheme, he added.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Senior Secretary of Finance Division Abdur Rouf Talukder, PMO Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Secretary of Economic Relations Division (ERD) Fatima Yasmin, Secretary of Planning Division Pradip Ranjan Chakraborty and other high officials were present.
The Awami League has announced a pension scheme for all types of informal sectors including public and private sector in the manifesto given for the Eleventh Parliamentary Election in 2018. The Prime Minister has given this instruction in its continuity.
Pension for all is the last thought of Awami League. When Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was the Finance Minister, he gave an outline in the proposed budget for 2017-2018. He spoke of a pilot project for this.
Although Muhith referred to the universal pension as his dream project, the issue has not been worked out publicly since AHM Mustafa Kamal became finance minister after the 11th parliamentary elections.
However, the fact that various works of the government have been done behind the scenes became clear in this event. The Finance Department gave a presentation to the Prime Minister on “Introduction to Universal Pension System”.
