Civil society for including income taxpayers in proposed pension scheme

The civil society representatives have demanded to include the income taxpayers directly in the proposed Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) that is going to be announced in the upcoming national budget for 2022-23 fiscal years.

They came with the demand at a seminar organized by COAST foundation at National Press Club in the capital on Wednesday.

They also recommended to government to hold mass participation and take their opinion to design an effective and sustainable pension scheme.

Dr. Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed presided over the seminar while COAST Foundation chairman Dr. Tofail Ahmed moderated the programme.

Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari MP, former NBR chairman Md. Abdul Majid, General Economic Division additional secretary Mahabubul Hoque, Bangladesh Unayan Parishad ED Dr. Nilufar Banu, Dr. Mesbahuddin Ahmed of Jatiya Sramik Jote, ASA executive vice president Fazlul Hoque and SBF executive director Asgor Ali Sabri spoke at the programme. Md. Ahsanul Karim from COAST presented the keynote.

Dr. Quazi Koliquzzaman said, “Awami League’s political manifesto is to make the country a welfare state. All initiatives of our government are to be focused on ensuring justice and welfare of the people. Poor people must be supported through the pension scheme. So make the pension scheme people-focused within the quickest time.”

Barrister Shamim said, “the proposed UPS is like an investing instrument scheme that needs to revise for shaping an institutional frame to serve all levels of people based on their economic status. The revision must be done before submitting it to the cabinet meeting.”

MK/EUM