Finance minister asks authorities to bring at least one member from each of 4 crore families under the scheme by 2030
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired a high-level meeting at the conference room of his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on 12 May 2026. Photo: PID
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Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired a high-level meeting at the conference room of his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on 12 May 2026. Photo: PID
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged a $100 million loan to strengthen the Universal Pension Scheme, with a feasibility study currently underway.
The information was disclosed during a meeting on the progress, challenges and future roadmap of the Universal Pension Scheme held at the Secretariat today (12 May).
During the meeting, the finance minister instructed the National Pension Authority to set a target of bringing at least one member from each of the country’s nearly 4 crore families under the pension scheme by 2030.
He also expressed a positive view on introducing a Shariah-based pension scheme, considering lifetime pension benefits for nominees, and including outsourced workers under the Progoti scheme to make the programme more attractive.
Executive Chairman of the National Pension Authority Dr Md Suratuzzaman informed the meeting that as of 30 April, a total of 377,545 citizens had registered under the four pension schemes-Probas, Progoti, Surakkha and Samata.
He said total deposits in the pension fund had reached around Tk255.7 crore, while total investments, including profits, stood at Tk279.74 crore.
Officials at the meeting noted that around 85% of Bangladesh’s workforce is employed in the informal sector and warned that the country’s old-age dependency ratio is projected to rise from 9.4% in 2023 to 24% by 2050 and 48% by 2075.
Against the backdrop of this demographic shift, participants stressed the need to make the universal pension scheme more robust and inclusive.
The meeting was also informed that contributions to the scheme are currently being collected through 45 banks and financial institutions, as well as through bKash, Nagad and Teletalk Bangladesh Limited.
Registration activities are also being conducted through Union Digital Centres.
Khosru added that ensuring financial security for private sector employees in old age through a pension fund is one of the current government’s key commitments.
He said the Universal Pension Scheme could play a major role in achieving that objective and emphasised the need to strengthen public trust in the scheme, expand awareness campaigns, ensure cybersecurity and recruit skilled and professional manpower.
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