Activity has resumed over the much-awaited ninth national pay scale. The proposal for the new pay structure is now in the final review stage. If all goes well, it could be placed before the cabinet next week or by the end of this month. Sources at the finance and planning ministries said that once the cabinet approves the proposal, the next step of issuing a gazette notification will begin. But no final decision has yet been taken on exactly when the new pay scale will take effect.
The biggest challenge before the government in implementing the new pay structure is its financial impact. Sources said that, given the possible pressure on government spending and inflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised delaying implementation of the pay scale somewhat.
Rather than postponing implementation entirely, however, the government is seeking an alternative path in line with its own financial capacity. Implementing the new pay structure in phases, if needed, is also under consideration, it is learned.
Since the eighth national pay scale took effect in 2015, no new national pay structure has been announced for a long time. During this period, although government officials and staff received a fixed annual increment, the cost of living and inflation rose significantly, steadily strengthening demands for a new pay scale.
In that context, the ninth pay commission submitted its report to the government in July 2025, recommending a rise in the basic pay of government officials and staff of 100 to 140 percent.
Under the proposed structure, the minimum basic pay was recommended to rise from 8,250 taka to 20,000 taka, and the maximum basic pay from 78,000 taka to 160,000 taka (1.6 lakh).
After the new government took office, a special committee was formed on 21 April to review the pay-scale recommendations. A final decision on the new pay structure is to be taken on the basis of that committee’s review and recommendations.
Economists say that if the proposed pay structure is fully implemented, the government’s annual spending could rise significantly. To manage the extra spending pressure, revenue will need to be raised alongside greater efficiency in managing government expenditure.
Expectations among government officials and staff over the ninth pay scale are meanwhile rising. Their attention is now on when the proposal will be placed before the cabinet, when a gazette will be issued after approval, and in what structure the new pay will ultimately take effect.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report