The just-approved ninth National Pay Scale settles one argument and opens another. Government employees now have their desired raise to be rolled out in three phases, with the first starting in July 2026.

Justified and equitable are two very different bars to clear and the cabinet’s approval of the ninth pay scale clears only the first.

Approve the National Pay Scale 2026 to help 2.4 million Dhaka public servants offset surging inflation. Public sector workers gain phased relief through 2028, while private employees fear rapid market price hikes across Bangladesh.

Says higher salaries without stronger accountability could fuel corruption, inflation and further pressure on low-income earners

The new pay scale takes effect from July 1, 2026; raises minimum basic salary to Tk 20,000

The proposed budget for FY2026-27 has earmarked Tk 44,000 crore for partial implementation of the new pay structure for government employees, although the government has yet to specify how it will be rolled out.

Tk 55,000cr additional allocation under public service head

The government must go for credible tax reforms, stronger revenue mobilisation.

The government officials, pensioners, and MPO-listed teachers and staff are set to get a new pay scale from July 1 after the committee led by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani recommended the rollout of the revised pay scale.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed says

The Ninth National Pay Commission yesterday proposed a new salary structure for government employees, recommending increases ranging from 100 percent to 142 percent, alongside substantial rises in other benefits.

He says after a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase

The interim government is examining the scope for partially implementing the new pay scale for public sector employees.

The doctors and staff of Holy Family Hospital in Dhaka confine its director to his office for implementation of the new pay scale.

Agitating teachers under the banner of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA) consider tougher programmes over the new pay scale dispute.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith hints that the provision of selection grade and time scale will stay in the new pay scale for the government staffs.

When an author of Oscar Wilde's stature could say, "A cheque is the only argument I recognise," he merely switched from his loyalty to philosophy over to the practicality of being money-wise. What would other mortals then do except follow in his footsteps!

Public servants are about to see their salaries doubled across the board. We are all for an increase in the pay of public servants given the increase in cost of living we have witnessed over the past few years.

Teachers of different public universities will observe three-hour work abstention and sit-in demonstration programmes at respective universities tomorrow, protesting the proposed 8th national pay scale and demanding a separate one for them.

The government will execute the new pay scale for public servants soon, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.