Docs errors delay teachers’ retirement benefits
Teachers and employees of private educational institutions are crowding the Teachers’ and Employees’ Retirement Benefits Board in the capital’s Eskaton area to correct errors in their applications and submit missing documents needed to receive their retirement benefits.
Many beneficiaries arriving from different parts of the country said they are facing considerable difficulties because of incomplete or inaccurate information in their applications.
A visit to the board found teachers, employees and their family members waiting to resolve various documentation problems. In several cases, applicants were required to return with additional documents before their claims could be processed.
A son of a deceased teacher, who requested anonymity, told The New Nation that he had come to claim his late father’s retirement benefits but found that several documents were missing from his application.
The required documents include a legal heir certificate, an online death certificate, a power of attorney executed on a Tk 300 non-judicial stamp, an updated bank statement of the nominee’s active account, a copy of the nominee’s National Identity Card (NID), and a mobile number registered in the nominee’s own name.
Natore-3 MP Md Anwarul Islam Anu was also seen in the office of the board secretary while visiting the board to resolve issues concerning his paperwork.
Anu, who was a teacher before entering politics, told The New Nation that he had personally come to the board to address problems with his documents.
A college teacher from Cumilla, who also visited the board for official purposes, said the board had no records or information concerning him apart from his initial application. He therefore submitted the required documents to update his records.
IT system destroyed, records being restored manually
Retirement Benefits Board Secretary Professor Mosharaf Hossain said the board is facing difficulties in updating records because its IT systems and data archives were destroyed during the final days of the previous government.
As a result, both teachers and board officials are having to make considerable efforts to restore and update records manually, he said.
“Hundreds of teachers and employees visit the board every day to collect their dues,” Professor Hossain said.
However, in many cases, applicants have submitted incorrect or incomplete information or failed to provide the necessary documents, creating additional complications in processing their claims, he said.
The secretary said board officials and employees are providing dedicated services to applicants, but errors or deficiencies in documentation often delay the process.
Board asks applicants to submit required documents
Against this backdrop, the Teachers’ and Employees’ Retirement Benefits Board has issued a notice requesting teachers and employees of private educational institutions whose applications submitted up to July 2026 are still pending payment to submit the required documents to the board.
Applicants have been asked to clearly mention their index number, application ID number and date of submission.
For living applicants, the required documents include, an active bank account of the teacher or employee along with an updated bank statement, a copy of the teacher or employee’s NID, a mobile phone number registered in the teacher or employee’s own name using their NID.
For applications concerning deceased teachers or employees, applicants must submit, an online death certificate, a power of attorney executed on a Tk 300 non-judicial stamp, a legal heir certificate, an active bank account of the nominee with an updated bank statement, a copy of the nominee’s NID, a mobile phone number registered in the nominee’s own name using their NID, the index number, application ID number and date of submission must also be mentioned with the documents.
Tk 2,035.86 crore disbursed to beneficiaries
Meanwhile, the process of disbursing outstanding payments from the Retirement Benefits and Welfare Trust was officially inaugurated on August 15.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the initiative at a ceremony held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
According to the information provided, a total of Tk 2,035.86 crore was allocated and transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, ending a four-year wait for many teachers.
The payments were transferred to teachers across all 64 districts through the digital iBAS++ and Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) systems, eliminating the need for beneficiaries to deal with brokers or middlemen.
At the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said teachers would no longer have to visit offices repeatedly or face harassment to receive retirement and welfare benefits to which they are entitled.
The benefits are funded through subscription fees deducted from teachers’ salaries during their service. Under the scheme, teachers can receive up to Tk 4.5 lakh in retirement benefits and up to Tk 3.16 lakh in welfare benefits.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Education Minister Dr A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan and Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin attended the programme.
A senior board official, speaking to The New Nation on condition of anonymity, warned beneficiaries against making any financial transactions with individuals claiming they could arrange or expedite the payment of retirement benefits.
He urged teachers and employees not to fall victim to brokers, fraudsters or middlemen and called for their cooperation in preventing such practices.
The official also requested concerned teachers and employees to submit the required documents at the Retirement Benefits Board office at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban on Eskaton Garden Road in Dhaka.
According to the official, school teachers should submit their documents in Rooms 1415 and 1421, college and technical teachers in Rooms 1416 and 1421, and madrasa teachers in Rooms 1413 and 1421.
