National Pension Authority Raises Nominee Age Limit and Profit Rates
The board of the National Pension Authority met in Dhaka to approve key policy updates, including raising the nominee pension age limit to 80. The meeting also greenlit higher profit rates for the 2025-26 fiscal year and a Shariah-based pension framework.
The National Pension Authority held its fourth governing board meeting on September 18, 2026, at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Presided over by high-ranking officials including Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Dr. Md. Suratuzzaman, the session resulted in several significant policy approvals concerning the country's universal pension scheme. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment were also tied to the broader administrative framework surrounding the discussions.
Among the key decisions approved by the board is an extension of the age limit for pension beneficiaries and their nominees. Dr. Md. Suratuzzaman explained the updated provision, stating that the pensioner will receive a lifetime pension, and following their death, the husband or wife will receive pension benefits until the age of 80. Previously, the age limit for this specific benefit was capped at 75 years, marking a notable expansion in social security support for surviving spouses.
The governing board also approved a proposal to introduce a Shariah-based or Islamic pension system within the universal pension framework to cater to participants seeking compliant financial options. Additionally, the board decided to bring employees of state-owned companies that do not currently provide traditional pensions under the umbrella of the 'Progati' scheme, thereby broadening the safety net for public sector enterprise workers across the country.
Financial terms for contributors and administrators saw upward adjustments during the meeting as well. The board approved a proposal to set the profit rate for the pension fund at between 11.68 percent and 11.72 percent for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This follows the previous 2024-25 fiscal year, during which a maximum profit rate of 11.61 percent was distributed to participants.
Furthermore, to encourage wider registration and support administrative infrastructure at the grassroots level, the commission paid to Union Digital Centres for processing registrations has been increased. The incentive has been raised from 15 Taka to 25 Taka per registration. Operational updates highlighted that across the four existing schemes, a total of 379,920 individuals have registered, accumulating a combined total of 2.88 billion Taka (288 crore 52 lakh Taka) in deposits.
