Staff Reporter :
The interim government has constituted the Armed Forces pay scale committee, 2025 to revise the pay structure of personnel serving in the army, navy, and air force.
A gazette notification issued by the Armed Forces Division (AFD) on Thursday announced the nine-member body, which will be chaired by Lieutenant General Md Faizur Rahman.
The committee has been instructed to coordinate closely with the ongoing National Pay Commission and to submit 25 bound copies of its recommendations to the AFD by 31 October.
Its mandate is wide-ranging, covering the review of salaries, allowances, pensions, and other financial benefits of all armed forces personnel (excluding civilian staff).
According to the notification, the committee will have the authority to set its own working policies, collect necessary information from any government body, and, if required, establish up to three separate sub-committees for the respective services.
The body has been tasked with preparing a pay structure that is both timely and appropriate, taking into account multiple considerations. Among its areas of focus are developing specialised salary frameworks, creating mechanisms to adjust wages with inflation, and reviewing non-salary benefits such as housing, medical, transport, and festival allowances. It will also assess the possibility of monetising certain service privileges and rationalising ration facilities.
In addition, the committee will examine the correlation between workload and compensation, identify and address existing disparities among different branches of the armed forces, and ensure equitable adjustments.
Another priority will be recognising the distinctive nature of military service – including hardship, sacrifice, life-risking duties in both peace and wartime, and the maintenance of strict physical and mental standards.
Finally, the panel must consider the average cost of living for a family of six, including expenses related to education and healthcare for up to two children.
