‘Praytaya’ scheme of universal pension cancelled

Staff Correspondent: Only teachers, officials and employees of public universities were demanding cancellation of universal pension scheme. However, the government has decided to scrap the entire scheme. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the cancellation. The Prime Minister made this announcement after a meeting held with the central leaders of the Professional Coordination Council at Ganabhaban on Saturday afternoon.
The Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance said in a circular, “It is to be informed that the decision to participate in the public pension system including the assurance scheme has been canceled in the case of employees of universities, self-governing, autonomous, state-owned, statutory or similar organizations.”

The Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance on March 13 launched the Pratyaya Scheme for newly joined employees of state-owned, autonomous, self-governing and statutory bodies, including teachers, officers and employees of public universities. It is said that from July 1, 2024, the conviction will apply to those who will join these organizations. After this, the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association has been making continuous movements to exclude themselves from this scheme. From July 1, all public universities of the country are observing all kinds of strike, including boycotting classes and exams.
The Ministry of Education issued another notification before the notification of the Finance Department. MA Khayer, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, said in a circular, “The names of the teachers and employees of the university have been withdrawn from the pension scheme.” The Prime Minister has approved the summary of the withdrawal.
Last July 29, the protesting teacher leaders held a meeting with Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury for three-point demands, including the exclusion of university teachers from the ‘verification’ program of universal pension. From the teachers’ side, it was led by the President of University Teachers’ Association Federation and Professor of Shahjalal Science and Technology University Akhtarul Islam. In addition to not being convinced, teachers have two other demands. They are individual pay structure and super grade.
Earlier, the teachers also held a meeting with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. After that meeting, it was announced that the implementation of the universal pension guarantee program will be delayed by one year. But the teachers did not agree.
A total of 403 state-owned, self-governing, autonomous, statutory, etc. organizations are subject to the verification on newly appointed employees from July 1. Out of this, 90 companies have received pension but the remaining 313 companies are out of pension.
If you want to know, the member of the National Pension Authority. Golam Mostafa told Prothom Alo, “For the time being, the conviction scheme has been cancelled.” He did not want to say anything other than that.
Akhtarul Islam, president of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association and professor of Shahjalal Science and Technology University, told Prothom Alo whether he welcomes the government’s decision to cancel the certificate. Our demands were three; A fulfillment is; The demand for super grades will also be met soon. But it will take some time to fulfill the demands of individual pay structure. But we hope, this will also be fulfilled.