44,000 retired teachers await as welfare trust faces Tk156cr annual deficit

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon told parliament today (14 June) that around 44,000 applications from retired teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions remain pending as the Non-Government Teachers’ Welfare Trust struggles with an annual funding shortfall of nearly Tk156 crore.

Responding to a written question from Jashore-4 lawmaker Md Golam Rasul, the minister said the trust generates about Tk684 crore annually, while it requires roughly Tk840 crore each year to pay welfare benefits to retired teachers and employees.

The gap between income and expenditure has contributed to delays in disbursing welfare trust payments and other benefits, he said.

“The Non-Government Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust is a financial service institution operated through contributions amounting to 4% of the monthly salaries of MPO-enlisted teachers and employees. The trust’s only sources of income are these contributions and returns from investments,” Milon said in response.

He added that the trust’s financial obligations continue to rise as annual increments increase the basic salaries of MPO-listed teachers and employees.

“The liability continues to increase due to annual increments in the basic salaries of MPO-enlisted teachers and employees. This financial shortfall is the reason behind delays in disbursing welfare trust funds and other entitled benefits to retired teachers and employees,” the minister said.

Golam Rasul had sought an explanation for the delays in paying retirement benefits, welfare trust funds and other dues to retired teachers and employees of non-government secondary schools and madrasas.

He also asked about the number of pending applications and the government’s initiatives to expedite payments.

According to the minister, the government and the welfare trust have taken several measures to speed up the settlement of applications.

In the 2025–26 fiscal year, welfare benefits worth more than Tk553.63 crore have already been disbursed among 9,284 retired teachers and employees, he said.

Milon said all applications submitted up to 30 April 2023 have been processed, with payments transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS++).

Applications submitted through June and July 2023 have also been processed, and arrangements are being made to release the payments, he added.

The minister said an estimated Tk3,150 crore in additional one-time funding would be required to settle the roughly 44,000 pending applications.

“The government is actively considering the matter to arrange the necessary funds and ensure the speedy disposal of the applications,” he said.