The new salary structure for government employees will be finalised earlier than the initially scheduled six-month period. Zakir Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the National Pay Commission (NPC) and former Finance Secretary, informed Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser, on Sunday.
The information was conveyed during a meeting at the State Guest House, Jamuna, with the NPC delegation. Later, Abul Kalam Azad Mojumder, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, confirmed the development.
The government formed the National Pay Commission 2025 to recommend salary increases for government employees and had asked for its report within six months. The commission, headed by Zakir Ahmed Khan and comprising 23 members, was officially notified by the Ministry of Finance on July 27 this year.
During the meeting, Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan noted that over the past decade, salaries had not risen proportionately despite increases in inflation and GDP. He said the commission is working on establishing a timely and comprehensive salary structure, including separate pay scales for specialized jobs, salary structures aligned with income tax obligations, determination of allowances such as house rent, medical, and transport, mechanisms to adjust salaries in line with inflation, timely pension and retirement benefits, and performance-based pay adjustments.
He added that the recommendations would also cover the creation of a unified salary structure, rationalisation of financial benefits related to telephone, car, and mobile facilities, cash and ration allowances, and correction of inconsistencies in salary grades and increments.
The Chairman said the commission had already commenced full-scale work and expressed hope that the final report would be submitted ahead of schedule, despite the initial six-month timeline. The Chief Adviser directed the commission to develop a reasonable and realistic salary structure for government and autonomous employees in line with current realities.
During the meeting, the Chief Adviser also emphasised the importance of health insurance for officials, noting that even a single illness can financially devastate families. “With proper insurance, families remain secure. Some neighbouring countries already follow such models,” he said.
The commission has been established to determine a new salary structure for government and autonomous employees after a decade. It will review salaries, allowances, and other benefits for officials and employees under the national pay scale, including those working in state-owned banks, financial institutions, approved universities, and state-owned industries.
Other attendees at the meeting included Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser Siraj Uddin Mia, and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mokhlesur Rahman.