NGOs urged to expand universal pension coverage

The National Pension Authority (NPA) has called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help expand the coverage of the universal pension scheme by raising awareness and encouraging greater participation among their employees and the communities they serve.
The call was made at an exchange meeting organised by the NPA at the conference room of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), with representatives of more than 50 leading NGOs attending.
Dr Suratujjaman, executive chairman of the NPA, attended the meeting as the chief guest, while Prof Mohammed Helal Uddin, vice-chairman of the MRA, chaired the event.
Addressing the meeting, Suratujjaman described the universal pension scheme as an important initiative for ensuring citizens’ long-term financial and social security.
He urged NGOs to take initiatives to enrol their own employees in the pension scheme and use their extensive grassroots networks and close relationships with beneficiaries to raise public awareness about the programme.
He also called on NGO representatives to encourage their employees and the communities they work with to participate in the scheme.
NGOs work closely with disadvantaged and marginalised communities across the country. Their active participation could therefore play a significant role in taking the message of universal pension to grassroots levels and bringing more people under the scheme, he said.
Abdul Mannan, director of the MRA, delivered the welcome address, while Sheikh Kamrul Hasan, a member of the NPA, also spoke at the meeting.
Representatives of the Finance Division, the NPA and the MRA, along with senior officials of the relevant institutions, attended the meeting.
Participants discussed the operations of the universal pension scheme, its registration process, the features of different pension programmes and the prospects for expanding coverage through NGO networks.
NGO representatives also shared their views and observations on the initiative, highlighting the importance of institutional cooperation in increasing public participation.
The meeting is expected to strengthen coordination between the NPA and NGOs, helping expand institutional participation and promote long-term financial security for people from all walks of life.