Syed Shemul Parvez :
In a disheartening narrative that has become all too familiar, pensions for educators in Bangladesh have transformed from a beacon of security into a source of anxiety and despair.
With the culmination of three decades of dedicated service, approximately five lakh MPO private teachers and employees find themselves entangled in a bureaucratic quagmire as they strive to obtain their rightful dues.
The repercussions of this administrative inertia reverberate far and wide, extending beyond financial concerns to encompass dire consequences for individuals’ well-being.
Many retirees find themselves unable to afford essential medical treatment, while thousands of families are ensnared in the suffocating grip of poverty.
The distress isn’t confined to the private sector alone; even government employees lament the prolonged wait for their pensions.
Responsible organizations cite budget constraints and a shortage of manpower as the primary culprits behind this distressing state of affairs. However, such explanations offer little solace to retirees like the elderly father from Naogaon’s Patnitala upazila, who, despite relentless efforts spanning six years, finds his bank account devoid of any pension funds.
His arduous journey to the capital, coupled with the burden of ill health, epitomizes the harrowing ordeal faced by many pension seekers.
Similarly, the plight of Mohammad Zainul Abdeen, a madrasa teacher from Narayanganj, underscores the systemic flaws plaguing pension disbursements.
Despite repeated assurances from retirement welfare board officials, his pension remains elusive, with bureaucratic red tape and technical glitches compounding his anguish.
As the hands of the clock mark the passage of time, the morning gives way to the afternoon. Yet, for many retirees like Zainul Abdin, the wait for their pensions stretches endlessly, exacerbated by the unreliable internet connection plaguing retirement board offices.
Akkas Ali Kabiraj, a beacon of education in Naogaon since 1994, now finds himself embroiled in a battle for his pension, despite retiring in 2020.
His dedication to spreading knowledge among rural communities stands in stark contrast to the bureaucratic hurdles obstructing his rightful entitlements.
In Chandpur, a father’s hopes of supporting his family or investing in his son’s business with his pension have transformed into a nightmare of uncertainty.
Similarly, Khorshed Alam, a college office assistant with three decades of service, laments the continued dependency of his family on his elusive pension.
The tragic tale of Asaduzzaman Mia, principal of Majbari Jahanara Begum College, Rajbari, further underscores the gravity of the situation.
Despite retiring in 2018, his pension remained elusive until his untimely demise from cancer in 2022. Now, his son Nafes navigates the labyrinthine bureaucracy, only to be met with assurances of a protracted process that offers little respite.
Mozammel Haque of Atwari in Panchagarh finds himself in a similar predicament, as he waits anxiously to collect his cancer-stricken brother’s pension. Like many others, he is ensnared in a cycle of uncertainty and delays, with excuses of internet disruptions serving as little comfort in the face of mounting desperation.
In Raujan, Chattogram, the widow of a pensioner grapples with the heart-wrenching revelation that she had been issued a check for her husband’s pension long ago, yet remains bereft of any financial assistance. Her plight epitomizes the anguish and frustration pervasive among pension seekers across the country.
Principal Shahjahan Saju, Secretary of the Non-government Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust (NGTEWT), identifies a shortage of funds and manpower as the primary obstacles exacerbating the suffering of pension seekers.
Despite the demand for 72 personnel, only 12 are currently employed, further compounding the administrative inefficiencies plaguing pension disbursements.
As the backlog of pending applications swells to a staggering 26 thousand, Principal Sharif Ahmed Sadi, Secretary of the Non-Government Employee Retirement Benefits Board (NGERBB), sheds light on the financial conundrum exacerbating the pension crisis.
Despite teachers’ contributions and interest on fixed deposits amounting to approximately Tk 36 crore annually, the available funds fall woefully short of the Tk 444 crore required to fulfill retirement allowances claimed by teachers every year.
The recent increase in bank interest rates offers a glimmer of hope, with an estimated 50-55 crore taka expected to bolster pension funds.
However, this influx of funds barely scratches the surface of the monumental shortfall, leaving retirees and government employees alike in a state of panic as they grapple with the protracted process of pension disbursements.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by a landmark verdict handed down by the High Court on February 22, mandating the payment of pensions to teachers and employees of private educational institutes under MPO within six months of their retirement
. Yet, as the clock ticks inexorably onwards, the reality remains grim for pension seekers caught in the throes of administrative inefficiency and financial shortfall.