SANGSAD BHABAN, June 28, 2026 (BSS) - Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon today said the government is sincerely committed to ensuring the prompt disbursement of retirement and welfare benefits to retired teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions.

He made the remarks while responding to a starred tabled question by opposition (Jamaat-e-Islami) lawmaker Md Abdul Wares from Gaibandha-5 in the Jatiya Sangsad.

The education minister said around 67,000 applications for retirement benefits are currently pending with the Non-Government Teachers and Employees Retirement Benefits Board.

"On average, a teacher or employee receives about Tk 13 lakh as retirement benefits," he said.

To settle all pending applications, approximately Tk 8,710 crore is required, while the Retirement Benefits Fund currently holds about Tk 1,300 crore, leaving a funding shortfall of around Tk 7,410 crore, he added.

The minister also informed the House that around 45,000 applications have remained pending with the Non-Government Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust from August 2023 to June 21 this year.

He said a one-time allocation of about Tk 3,150 crore would be required to dispose of the pending welfare benefit applications.

Highlighting the government's initiatives, Dr Milon said necessary measures have already been undertaken to address the financial crisis of both the Retirement Benefits Board and the Welfare Trust through government funding.

He added that steps have also been taken to expedite the disposal of applications by reactivating the software system, increasing manpower, expanding online services, and introducing direct transfer of benefits to teachers' and employees' bank accounts through the iBAS++ financial management system.

The minister said these initiatives would help ensure faster, more transparent and efficient disbursement of retirement and welfare benefits.