Special provisions for retired persons

According to the government guideline, the amount of interest rate of deposits has been dropped significantly which came as a blow to the retired persons. They have become the worse victims of this as they have no regular income other than a small amount of monthly earning from the interest which comes out of fixed deposits or savings certificates. The government has also imposed tax on the earnings of the deposits. 

I would earnestly request the honourable finance minister to rethink and not to impose any tax on retired persons' earnings from bank deposits. The government should also introduce a system of special medical cards for old and retired people so that they can avail treatment including necessary tests and medicines free of cost or at a cheaper rate. At a time when prices of everything are skyrocketing, the government should consider this on a humanitarian ground.

Md. Shafiqul Islam
Executive director (retd) of a national NGO