Representatives of 250 local and international NGOs have been urged to take effective steps to bring eligible employees under the Universal Pension Scheme, particularly the ‘Progoti’ scheme, to ensure their long-term financial security.

The call was made at a discussion organised by the NGO Affairs Bureau on Thursday, with senior officials from the National Pension Authority, Finance Division and NGO Affairs Bureau, along with representatives of registered NGOs, attending the meeting.

National Pension Authority Executive Chairman Dr Md Suratuzzaman made a detailed presentation on the overall structure, objectives and benefits of the Universal Pension Scheme, highlighting the relevance of the Progoti scheme for people working in the NGO sector.

He said the Universal Pension Scheme is a state-guaranteed social protection programme aimed at ensuring financial security for citizens in old age.

The Progoti scheme has been designed for employees of private organisations, banks, financial institutions, multinational companies and local and international NGOs. Subscribers can receive a lifetime monthly pension after making regular contributions during their working lives.

The NGO representatives raised various questions about the scheme during the open discussion, which were answered by officials of the National Pension Authority.

In his presidential remarks, NGO Affairs Bureau Director General Dr Mohammad Zakaria called for greater attention to the social and financial security of people working in the NGO sector.

Joining the meeting virtually, Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir stressed greater participation of private sector and NGO employees in the Universal Pension Scheme.

He urged NGO management authorities to inform eligible employees about the Progoti scheme and take necessary initiatives to enrol them.

The adviser said establishing a welfare state where the benefits of development reach people across all sections of society was one of the government’s key objectives.

He said active participation of the private and NGO sectors was crucial to implementing the government’s election manifesto commitment to establish pension funds to ensure financial security for private sector employees in their old age.

He expressed hope that local and international NGOs would play an effective role in bringing their employees under the Progoti scheme.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by NGO Affairs Bureau Director Barrister Md Khalilur Rahman, NDC.

The participating NGO representatives expressed positive interest in bringing employees of their respective organisations under the Universal Pension Scheme.