Pay scale set for Cabinet review
The minimum basic salary of Bangladesh’s government employees could rise to Tk 20,000 under the proposed Ninth National Pay Scale, as preparations to place the long-awaited salary structure before the Cabinet enter the final stage.
A committee of secretaries led by the Cabinet Secretary has finalised the draft proposal in principle, with the plan potentially going before the Cabinet this week, subject to the Prime Minister’s approval, relevant sources said.
The proposed pay structure would increase basic salaries by up to 100 per cent, although the increase would not be uniform across all grades.
The committee has recommended comparatively higher increases for lower-grade officials and employees than for those in higher grades.
Under the draft, partial implementation of the Ninth Pay Scale could begin from July this year, with the new structure to be fully implemented in phases by January 2028.
The proposal envisages a two-phase implementation.
The first phase would focus on increases in basic salaries, while the second would cover allowances and other financial benefits.
A meeting of the committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary last Wednesday, gave in-principle approval to submit the proposal to the Cabinet.
However, several aspects of the draft could still be amended before a final decision is taken.
The Cabinet will also determine whether the pay scale should be implemented in two phases or through a different arrangement.
Minimum basic salary proposed at Tk 20,000
The proposed minimum basic salary of Tk 20,000 would represent a substantial increase from the current minimum of Tk 8,250. At the upper end, the basic salary could rise from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000.
The Ninth Pay Commission, which submitted its report to the government in July 2025, had recommended increases of 100 to 140 per cent in the basic salaries of government officials and employees.
The commission’s recommendations were made against a backdrop of rising living costs and inflation, with the Eighth National Pay Scale having remained in force since 2015.
Although government employees have continued to receive regular annual increments during the intervening period, the absence of a new national pay structure has fuelled growing demands for a revised salary framework.
Judiciary issue under review
The process has also encountered complications concerning the judiciary.
The government has formed a seven-member special committee headed by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury to examine the issue and recommend a way forward.
The draft proposal will remain subject to further changes until it receives Cabinet approval.
If approved, the Cabinet’s decision will determine the final salary increase rates, implementation framework and effective date of the Ninth National Pay Scale.
