The long-awaited draft of Bangladesh’s ninth National Pay Scale has reached the stage of being placed before the Cabinet, raising fresh expectations among government employees across the country. A committee led by the Cabinet Secretary has reviewed various aspects of the proposed salary structure and has reportedly finalised the draft in principle. Subject to the Prime Minister’s approval, the proposal could be placed before a Cabinet meeting this week.
The most significant feature of the proposed pay structure is the planned increase in basic salaries. The draft recommends raising basic pay by up to 100 per cent. However, the increase is not expected to be uniform across all grades. Lower-paid employees have been prioritised for comparatively higher increases, reflecting concerns over the pressure created by rising living costs on those at the lower end of the government pay structure.
The proposed ninth pay scale is also expected to be implemented in phases. The first phase would focus on increasing basic salaries, while allowances and other financial benefits could be revised at a later stage. The precise number of phases and the implementation timetable, however, will depend on the Cabinet’s final decision.
At a meeting held last Wednesday, the relevant committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary reportedly gave the draft its in-principle approval for presentation to the Cabinet. This does not mean that the proposed structure has received final government approval. The Cabinet may still alter salary increments, implementation stages, allowances or other provisions before reaching a final decision.
The draft has kept open the possibility of partially implementing the new pay scale from July this year. The remaining components could then be introduced progressively, with the full structure targeted for implementation by January 2028. This timeline, too, remains subject to Cabinet approval.
Judicial Issues Add Complexity
Some unresolved matters concerning the judiciary have complicated the finalisation process. To examine these issues and work towards a solution, a seven-member special committee has been formed under the leadership of Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Its recommendations could influence the final structure of the pay scale.
The proposed structure also differs from the recommendations of the Ninth Pay Commission, which submitted its report to the government in July 2025. The commission had recommended increases of between 100 and 140 per cent in basic salaries. It proposed raising the minimum basic salary from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the maximum from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000.
The current draft, with a maximum proposed increase of 100 per cent, therefore represents a more restrained approach than the commission’s recommendations. At the same time, giving proportionately greater increases to lower grades could make the proposed structure more progressive in terms of income distribution within the government workforce.
The demand for a new pay scale has been building for years. The eighth National Pay Scale was introduced in 2015, and nearly a decade has passed since then. Although government employees have continued to receive annual increments, the cost of living has also risen significantly during the intervening period. This has intensified calls for a revised salary structure that better reflects contemporary economic conditions.
The immediate focus is now on the Cabinet. If the draft receives approval, greater clarity will emerge over the revised salaries for individual grades, the treatment of allowances and other financial benefits, and the date from which the new structure will take effect. Until that decision is made, the proposed ninth National Pay Scale remains a draft rather than a final government policy.
