Ninth Pay Scale Salaries Expected on November 1 as Grade Pay Differences Reverse

The process of fixing new basic salaries for government employees under Bangladesh's ninth national pay scale was completed in recent days, and authorities are now calculating the amounts payable. According to sources, the process of finalising salaries under the new structure, differences from previous salaries and arrears has been completed, although several complications remain.

Government employees are expected to receive their October salaries under the newly announced pay scale. According to sources, the government will pay salaries under the new structure on November 1, along with four months of arrears. However, not all of the country's 1.4 million government employees and 800,000 pensioners have completed the pay-fixation process. Those whose salaries have not been fixed will be paid under the previous pay structure, with their arrears also settled accordingly.

The notification introducing the new national pay structure was issued on September 17. Pay fixation began on October 5, nearly three weeks later, but the process has yet to be completed for employees in many ministries.

Officials concerned have reported inconsistencies in grade progression, higher-grade benefits and house rent allowance calculations during pay fixation. Various complications in the iBAS++ system have also slowed progress. As a result, some employees fear they may not receive their entitled financial benefits, while others could face a reduction in total pay despite receiving promotions. Those involved in drafting and implementing the notification have been accused of lacking sufficient understanding of the process. Work is underway to resolve the emerging complications.

Meanwhile, the phased implementation of the new pay structure is expected to leave differences between the salaries of two grades, with employees in the 12th grade receiving more than those in the 11th grade in certain calculations.

If 50% of the benefits take effect in the first phase from July 1, 2026, the basic salary for the 11th grade will stand at Tk 31,230, while that for the 12th grade will be Tk 31,590. This means 12th-grade employees will receive Tk 360 more.

Similarly, when 75% of the benefits take effect from January 1, 2027, the basic salary for the 11th grade will be Tk 35,015, compared with Tk 35,595 for the 12th grade, creating a difference of Tk 580. When the full benefits take effect from July 1, 2027, the basic salary will be Tk 40,800 for the 11th grade and Tk 41,600 for the 12th grade, widening the gap to Tk 800.

Under paragraphs 5 and 9 of the new notification, benefits are to be implemented in phases at 50%, 75% and 100%, based on the difference between the newly determined salary and the existing salary as calculated on July 1, 2026. Employees have complained that this method disrupts the normal order of grade-based salaries during pay fixation.

Under the ninth pay scale, the starting basic salary for the 11th grade is Tk 25,000, while that for the 12th grade is Tk 24,300. At the entry level, therefore, 11th-grade employees are ahead of their 12th-grade counterparts by Tk 700. However, calculations under the new structure show that this advantage is being reversed.

According to the information available, an 11th-grade employee had a starting basic salary of Tk 12,500 under the 2015 pay scale. By June 30, the employee's basic salary had risen to Tk 23,660, an increase of Tk 11,160 under the previous structure. Adding that increase to the new starting basic salary of Tk 25,000 brings the total to Tk 36,160. As the new pay scale has no salary step corresponding to that amount, the employee's basic salary is being fixed at Tk 37,000, the next available step.

In contrast, a 12th-grade employee had a starting basic salary of Tk 11,300 under the 2015 structure. By June 30, the employee's basic salary had risen to Tk 23,580, an increase of Tk 12,280. Adding that increase to the new starting basic salary of Tk 24,300 gives Tk 36,580. Consequently, the employee's new basic salary is being fixed at Tk 37,700, the next available step.

Under these calculations, the 11th-grade employee will receive a basic salary of Tk 37,000, while the 12th-grade employee will receive Tk 37,700. Thus, an employee who was initially Tk 700 ahead in the 11th grade ends up Tk 700 behind after pay fixation. This has raised questions about whether the normal hierarchy of grades is being maintained under the new structure.

According to reports, the Cabinet approved the ninth national pay scale at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on August 31. The Finance Division subsequently published the Government Servants (Pay and Allowances) Order 2026 on September 19, stating that the new pay structure would take effect from July 1.

In a notification issued on October 19, the Finance Division stated that, until further instructions, existing allowances calculated as a percentage of basic salary must be determined and paid based on the basic salary received on June 30, 2026. Following this arrangement, government employees are now approaching the final stage of receiving benefits under the new pay scale.