The Government of Bangladesh has allocated 1,36,000 crore BDT for social security this year, yet many deserving individuals remain deprived due to irregularities in beneficiary selection and fund distribution. At a recent meeting, officials highlighted major issues, including the inclusion of ineligible individuals, duplicate benefit claims, and “ghost beneficiaries” receiving payments.

To address these problems, officials proposed stricter verification processes, including updating beneficiary lists, using a Single Registry MIS to detect duplicates, and requiring National IDs (NIDs) for eligibility. Additionally, ministries were urged to coordinate efforts to eliminate fund leakage and improve transparency.

Key decisions included suspending allowances for beneficiaries without NIDs by April 30, 2025, and ensuring all lists are verified by March 30, 2025. The Chairman concluded the meeting by emphasizing the urgency of implementing these reforms to ensure social security benefits reach those in genuine need.