The Interim government-formed National Pay Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday, recommending a 105 per cent increase in the average salary of government employees.
The 23-member commission, headed by Zakir Ahmed Khan, presented the report at the state guest house Jamuna in the afternoon. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, and all full-time and part-time members of the commission were present.
The Chief Adviser expressed satisfaction after receiving the report and thanked the members of the commission. Zakir Ahmed Khan noted that in the last decade, there have been significant changes in almost all economic indicators at the national and global levels.
Prices of daily necessities have increased manifold, making it increasingly difficult for government employees to meet living expenses. The commission reviewed existing salaries, allowances, and benefits, and formulated recommendations based on a clear terms of reference.
The report proposes a 140 per cent increase in the salary of government employees in the 20th grade, raising it to Tk 42,000 from Tk 18,000. It also recommends an 80 per cent raise for grade 1 officials, bringing their pay to Tk 140,000 from Tk 78,000.
A commission member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was finalized in the latest meeting. Currently, the annual expenditure on salaries and allowances of government officials is around Tk 90,000 crore. Full implementation of the new pay structure may require an additional Tk 70,000-80,000 crore.
Teachers, researchers, doctors, scientists, and engineers are expected to receive special allowances under the proposal. While officials in the same grade receive identical basic salaries, additional allowances are being recommended for certain professionals.
The commission also recommended keeping the annual increment at 5 per cent of the basic salary, consistent with the current structure.
Officials from deputy secretary to additional secretary level currently get a one-time interest-free loan of Tk 3 million for cars and Tk 50,000 monthly for maintenance.
While the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association proposed increasing this to Tk 4.5 million and Tk 75,000, the commission recommended keeping the existing benefits unchanged, citing that only a few high-paid officials receive them.
The commission also proposed the formation of a service commission to address inconsistencies in public service pay and benefits.
The government had initially allocated Tk 80,000 crore for salaries and allowances in the current fiscal year. After the commission's recommendation, an additional Tk 22,000 crore has been added in the revised budget for partial implementation from January.
The new salary structure will not be implemented immediately. The final decision will be taken after review and scrutiny by a relevant committee, the Finance Adviser said.
To prepare the report, the commission held 184 meetings, both online and offline, with various stakeholders and received input from 2,552 people. Discussions also included representatives of professional societies and associations.
Implementation of the recommendations is projected to cost Tk 1.6 lakh crore, compared to the current Tk 1.31 lakh crore spent on 1.4 lakh employees and 9 lakh pensioners.
Key proposals include: Introduction of health insurance for government employees; Pension system reforms; Restructuring of the Government Employees Welfare Board; Formation of a service commission; Rational restructuring of pay grades and scales; Creation of a committee to review allowances; Human resource development in health and education sectors; Monthly allowance of Tk 2,000 for employees with a disabled child (max two children); Increase in tiffin allowance for grades 11-20 to Tk 1,000; The 23-member Ninth National Pay Commission was formed on July 27, 2025, 12 years after the Eighth Pay Commission in 2013, with a six-month deadline for submission.
The report was prepared at only 18 per cent of the budget allocated for the commission.
