Speed money rules pace of pension benefit processing

---

Government servants on retirement have to pay around Tk 8,000 each as bribe for receiving their pension benefits, in addition to their ancillary costs, according to a research report.

The research, commissioned by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), has listed the lack of transparency and accountability, bribery and procedural complexities in the pension systems as major sources of sufferings for the retired public servants.

Around 71 per cent of pension-holders surveyed under the research study were required to pay an average of Tk 7,660 each as bribe for processing pension papers in addition to ancillary costs of Tk 3,720.

Moreover, completion of the entire pension process takes about 156 days on an average, revealed the research, which was conducted by a TIB research fellow, KNM Hossainul Haque, during the years 2006 and 2007.

The research report styled 'Pains of pension: An exploration into corruption in delivery of public pension' was released Monday at a press conference, organised by the TIB at the National Press Club with the TIB Chairman Mozaffar Ahmed in the chair.

Former adviser to caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, former foreign secretary Waliur Rahman, Professor of Dhaka University Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman and TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman also spoke on the occasion.

Prof Mozaffar said, "Pension is a deferred payment of the concerned service rendered