New Pay Scale Proposal Set for Cabinet Approval in Dhaka

A crucial cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place at the Secretariat in Dhaka, where a proposal for a brand new pay scale, known as the ninth pay scale, is expected to be presented for official consideration. The high-profile gathering is set for 5:00 PM and will be presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, bringing key government officials together to deliberate on the sweeping financial reforms affecting public sector employees across the nation.

The administrative groundwork leading up to this moment involved rigorous scrutiny by multiple specialized bodies, including the National Pay Commission 2025, the Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission 2025, and the Armed Forces Pay Committee 2025. To manage this extensive review process, a 10-member committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani was established on April 21, followed subsequently by a 7-member ministerial-level committee led by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on August 6.

According to the detailed 19-page summary prepared for the deliberations, the newly recommended salary structure features substantial hikes for government workers. Specifically, recommendations include doubling the lowest basic salary from 8,250 Taka to 16,500 Taka, while the maximum basic salary would rise from 78,000 Taka to 1,24,000 Taka. Furthermore, salaries for grades 1 through 9 are proposed to increase by 60 to 70 percent, whereas employees falling within grades 10 through 20 face a projected 100 percent salary increase.

The financial blueprint also addresses the macroeconomic allocations required to sustain these adjustments. Financial provisions for the 2026-27 fiscal year earmark 89,836 Crore Taka exclusively for salaries and allowances, while the total allocation—incorporating pension gratuities—reaches an expansive 1,41,434 Crore Taka. Additionally, the structural changes have been designed to unfold in two distinct phases, with the first year focusing solely on adjusting basic pay, followed by the introduction of house rent and other allowances in the subsequent year.

Background developments leading into these policy discussions reflect a broader administrative timeline, which notably included the publication of an e-book titled '180 Days of the People's Government' by the Prime Minister's Office on August 17. As the cabinet members gather in Dhaka, deliberations will center on finalizing these comprehensive recommendations to reshape compensation frameworks for the country's public workforce.