Committee recommends up to 100% hike in govt employees’ basic pay

A high-level secretaries’ committee on the implementation of the ninth pay scale has recommended increasing the basic salary of government employees in grades 1 to 20 by up to 100 percent.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) highlighted the development in an e-book titled “180 Days of the People’s Government”, published to mark the completion of the government’s six months in office.

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The implementation plan was detailed under the sub-heading “9th Pay Scale: Great Good News for Government Employees”.

According to the publication, the new scale will be rolled out in two phases — the basic salary will be implemented in the first year, followed by house rent and other allowances in the second year.

All members of the committee have signed the final report, confirming that the recommendations have been finalised.

The report noted that Tk 89,836 crore has been earmarked for salaries and allowances in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget, with the total allocation reaching Tk 1,41,434 crore when pensions and gratuities are included.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury assured that the official announcement of the ninth pay scale will come within this year.

He made the remarks while briefing reporters at the Secretariat following a meeting of the committee formed to draft recommendations on the report of the “Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission, 2025”.

“Everything will be done, but there are issues that require further deliberation,” the minister said.

“We discussed one aspect today. Once a complete decision is reached after further discussions, it will be formally presented.”

Urging patience, the minister added that the government is treating the issue with the utmost priority and will release detailed information once the decision is fully finalised.

On July 27, 2025, the interim government formed a 23-member 9th National Pay Commission headed by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan.

The panel submitted its report to then-Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on January 21 this year.

Retaining the existing 20 grades, the Zakir Ahmed Khan commission recommended a 100 to 140 percent raise in total pay and allowances.

It proposed hiking the minimum basic salary from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the maximum fixed basic salary from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000.

Subsequently, a 10-member committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani was formed on April 21 to recommend an execution strategy for the new pay structure.

The panel includes the principal secretary to the prime minister, the finance secretary, the public administration secretary and other key officials.

Earlier, on June 11 this year, during his budget speech in parliament, the finance minister announced that the new pay structure would take effect from July 1 in phases, citing that government employees have been on the same salary structure for nearly 11 years while the cost of living has surged due to inflation.