44,000 retired teachers await as welfare trust faces Tk156cr annual deficit

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon told parliament
today (14 June) that around 44,000 applications from retired teachers and
employees of non-government educational institutions remain pending as the
Non-Government Teachers' Welfare Trust struggles with an annual funding
shortfall of nearly Tk156 crore.
Responding to a written question
from Jashore-4 lawmaker Md Golam Rasul, the minister said the trust generates
about Tk684 crore annually, while it requires roughly Tk840 crore each year to
pay welfare benefits to retired teachers and employees.
The gap between income and
expenditure has contributed to delays in disbursing welfare trust payments and
other benefits, he said.
"The Non-Government Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees
Welfare Trust is a financial service institution operated through contributions
amounting to 4% of the monthly salaries of MPO-enlisted teachers and employees.
The trust's only sources of income are these contributions and returns from
investments," Milon said in response.
He added that the trust's financial
obligations continue to rise as annual increments increase the basic salaries
of MPO-listed teachers and employees.
"The liability continues to
increase due to annual increments in the basic salaries of MPO-enlisted
teachers and employees. This financial shortfall is the reason behind delays in
disbursing welfare trust funds and other entitled benefits to retired teachers
and employees," the minister said.
Golam Rasul had sought an
explanation for the delays in paying retirement benefits, welfare trust funds
and other dues to retired teachers and employees of non-government secondary
schools and madrasas.
He also asked about the number of
pending applications and the government's initiatives to expedite payments.
According to the minister, the
government and the welfare trust have taken several measures to speed up the
settlement of applications.
In the 2025–26 fiscal year, welfare
benefits worth more than Tk553.63 crore have already been disbursed among 9,284
retired teachers and employees, he said.
Milon said all applications
submitted up to 30 April 2023 have been processed, with payments transferred
directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Integrated Budget and
Accounting System (iBAS++).
Applications submitted through June
and July 2023 have also been processed, and arrangements are being made to
release the payments, he added.
The minister said an estimated
Tk3,150 crore in additional one-time funding would be required to settle the
roughly 44,000 pending applications.
"The government is actively
considering the matter to arrange the necessary funds and ensure the speedy
disposal of the applications," he said.
















