DHAKA, July 25 (V7N) – The government of Bangladesh has officially formed a new Pay Commission to revise the salary structure for public sector employees. The decision was approved on Thursday during a meeting of the Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The commission is tasked with proposing a new pay scale, replacing the current structure that has been in effect since 2015.
 
According to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, former Finance Secretary and Chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, Zakir Ahmed Khan, has been appointed head of the commission. The body has been given six months to submit its report.
 
At a post-meeting press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated, “The Advisory Council has approved the formation of a National Pay Commission. The last pay scale was implemented in 2015. After ten years, we are moving forward with a new structure.” He also acknowledged the impact of inflation on purchasing power, noting that while inflation has recently come down to 8%, compensation adjustments have not kept pace.
 
Following the announcement, Zakir Ahmed Khan met with representatives of the Bangladesh Secretariat Employees’ Association. He assured the delegation that the commission would engage all stakeholders before finalizing recommendations.
 
Approximately 1.5 million government employees currently receive salaries based on the 2015 pay scale. With the cost of living rising, discussions around a new salary framework have gained urgency in recent months. After the interim government assumed office in August last year, public servants began advocating for a dearness allowance.
 
In December 2024, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Md. Mokhles-ur-Rahman, announced plans to provide dearness allowances to all government employees and pensioners, from office assistants to top-level officials. However, in January 2025, Financial Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed indicated that the proposal was still under review. The 2025–26 national budget eventually introduced special benefits for public employees effective from July 1, but not the much-anticipated allowance.
 
The current pay scale consists of 20 grades. Entry-level first-class officers recruited through the BCS exam receive a basic monthly salary of Tk 22,000. Secretaries at the highest level earn Tk 78,000, while senior secretaries receive Tk 82,000. The Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister are paid Tk 86,000. In addition to the base salary, employees receive allowances for housing, transport, and healthcare, along with two annual festival bonuses and a 20% New Year allowance based on their basic pay.
 
With the new Pay Commission in place, expectations are high among government employees for a more equitable and inflation-adjusted compensation structure in the coming year.
 
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