Reasons for the delay in publishing the gazette for the new pay scale

Bangla Press Desk: Renewed uncertainty has arisen among government officials and employees as the gazette for the 9th National Pay Scale has not yet been published, despite a week having passed since Cabinet approval. Officials concerned state that the resolution regarding the gazette notification has already been sent from the Bangladesh Government Press to the Ministry of Finance. From there, it was forwarded to the Ministry of Law for vetting. Once vetting is complete, the gazette will be published promptly with an SRO (Statutory Regulatory Order) number.
However, an official from the Finance Division indicated that the publication is facing a slight delay due to complexities regarding certain issues, including the determination of salaries and allowances for the judicial service.
It was announced that the gazette would be published within a week of the Cabinet approving the new pay structure on August 31; however, it had not been published by September 10.
Relevant sources report that the pay scale resolution was sent to the Bangladesh Government Press on September 2. After processing, it returned to the Finance Division and was subsequently sent to the Ministry of Law for vetting. The notification is currently at the vetting stage within the Law Ministry.
Government employees are awaiting the gazette for final directives on matters such as the basic salary under the new scale, the effective dates for various allowances, and the method for calculating arrears.
A senior official from the Finance Division involved in formulating and implementing the pay scale told the media on condition of anonymity that judicial service personnel had sought a 100% allowance, a request to which the Finance Division did not agree. The new pay structure was approved and announced by the Cabinet without a comprehensive resolution to this issue. Consequently, it has become difficult to decide on publishing the gazette without first resolving this complication.
He stated that the government has no intention of delaying the gazette's publication; the time taken is solely due to necessary procedural requirements, and efforts are underway to publish it as soon as possible.
Stakeholders note that until the gazette is published, it is not possible to finalize salary determinations based merely on drafts or information reported in the media. The directives in the official notification will be final regarding rules for salary fixation, annual increments, promotions, higher grade placement, house rent, medical and festival allowances, and retirement benefits. Another official from the Finance Division stated that the matter of fixing salaries in accordance with government employees' demands is currently under review. Additionally, there have been demands to increase allowances—such as education and house rent allowances—as the current rates do not meet their expectations. A gazette notification resolving these complexities is likely to be published towards the end of next week.
Earlier, the Cabinet approved the 9th National Pay Scale on August 31. The new pay structure is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Goni had previously indicated that the order would be issued this week; however, the publication of the gazette is taking longer due to certain administrative and legal formalities.
Lower-grade government employees are expected to receive the greatest benefits under the new pay scale. The basic salary for Grade 20 has been raised from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000—an increase of approximately 142 percent.
Meanwhile, the basic salary for Grade 1 has been increased from Tk 78,000 to Tk 1,56,000, representing a 100 percent hike.
Although the new pay structure is effective from July 1, 2026, the full increase in basic salary will not be implemented all at once. The new basic salary will be implemented in three phases during the current 2026-27 fiscal year.
For Grades 10 through 20, 50 percent of the salary increment will be added in the first phase, 25 percent in the second, and the remaining 25 percent in the third. Conversely, for Grades 1 through 9, 40 percent of the increment will be implemented in the first phase, 30 percent in the second, and the remaining 30 percent in the third.
For instance, in Grade 20, the basic salary will rise from the current Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000. In the first phase, 50 percent of the Tk 11,750 increment—amounting to Tk 5,875—will be added, bringing the basic salary to Tk 14,125. In the second phase, an additional Tk 2,937.50 will be added, raising it to Tk 17,062.50. In the third phase, an equal amount will be added, bringing the final basic salary to Tk 20,000.
In Grade 1, the basic salary will increase from Tk 78,000 to Tk 1,56,000. In the first phase, 40 percent of the Tk 78,000 increment—amounting to Tk 31,200—will be added, resulting in a basic salary of Tk 1,09,200. In the second phase, an additional Tk 23,400 will be added, bringing the total to Tk 1,32,600. With the addition of the same amount in the third phase, the final basic salary will stand at Tk 1,56,000.
Meanwhile, for the 9th grade, the basic salary will rise from the current Tk 22,000 to Tk 44,000. Across three phases, the basic salary will reach Tk 30,800, Tk 37,400, and Tk 44,000, respectively.
A crucial point for employees is that, although the basic salary will increase in three phases, there is a plan to implement various allowances—such as those for housing, medical care, education, and commuting—at the new rates simultaneously, starting from January 1, 2028.
This means that even after the new basic salary structure comes into full effect in July 2027, employees will have to wait a few more months to receive the full benefits of the new allowances. Once these new allowances are incorporated, their actual monthly income will increase significantly relative to their basic salary.
For instance, if a newly joined Grade 20 employee in Dhaka has a basic salary of Tk 20,000, their total monthly income—including housing, medical, and other applicable allowances—could amount to approximately Tk 41,908.
BP/TD