Automatic inclusion in Universal Pension Scheme for those joining from July 1

All employees who will join self-regulated, autonomous, state-run, statutory organisations or their affiliated companies on July 1 and later will automatically come under the Universal Pension Scheme. 

The finance ministry published a notice to this effect yesterday. 

Launched in August, the scheme aims at bringing the growing elderly population of the country under a well-organised social safety net and providing them with a monthly stipend so that they can meet expenses.

All citizens aged between 18 and 50 years, including expatriate Bangladeshis, are eligible.
There are four products -- Pragati, Surokkha, Samata and Probashi -- under the pension initiative.

Pragati covers private job-holders and Surokkha is dedicated to rickshaw pullers, workers, potters, smiths, fishermen, weavers and self-employed persons.

Samata is for the people with low income and Probashi will cover expatriate Bangladeshis.

Some 17,995 people have subscribed to the scheme in the first five months after the launch, said an official of the National Pension Scheme Authority earlier.