70% Basic Salary Incentive for Basic Subject Teachers: Notifications Issued

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued two notifications announcing a monthly non-practicing incentive equivalent to 70% of basic salary for teachers of basic subjects across five medical universities, 37 government medical colleges, Dhaka Dental College, the Center for Medical Education (CME), and 19 specialized institutions. This incentive applies to teachers in 8 core basic subjects and 2 additional non-practicing disciplines.

The notifications were released on Tuesday by the Medical Education-1 Branch of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Sanjib Das.

For the medical universities, the incentive covers teachers holding postgraduate degrees in Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), Rajshahi Medical University, Chattogram Medical University, Sylhet Medical University, and Khulna Medical University. The notification states: “To eliminate the shortage of basic subject teachers in medical education, as approved by the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance on 25 September, postgraduate degree-holding teachers teaching in 3 subjects at Bangladesh Medical University and 5 medical universities are hereby granted a monthly incentive allowance at 70% of basic salary as non-practicing allowance, subject to conditions.”

In the second notification, the same 70% incentive is extended to teachers of 10 subjects across 37 government medical colleges, Dhaka Dental College, CME, and 19 specialized institutions. The subjects are Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology, Virology, and Anesthesiology. The text reads: “To eliminate the shortage of basic subject teachers in medical education, as approved by the Finance Division on 25 September, teachers teaching in 10 subjects at 37 government medical colleges, Dhaka Dental College, Center for Medical Education, and 19 specialized institutions are hereby granted a monthly incentive allowance at 70% of basic salary as non-practicing allowance, subject to conditions.”

Both notifications impose identical conditions. Teachers must submit an official non-practicing declaration. Failure to do so or proof of private practice will disqualify them from receiving the incentive. The benefit will take effect from the 2025–26 fiscal year, remain fixed under the 9th National Pay Scale, and require strict adherence to all financial regulations. Billing authorities will be held accountable for any future irregularities.

Since 2019, the government has been providing graded incentives to address acute shortages in the 8 core basic subjects: 9th Grade teachers receive Tk 10,000, 8th Grade Tk 11,000, 7th Grade Tk 13,000, 6th Grade Tk 15,000, 5th Grade Tk 16,000, 4th Grade Tk 18,000, and 3rd Grade Tk 20,000. Virology and Anesthesiology were later included due to their non-practicing nature.

According to the Health Education Directorate, there are 2,155 sanctioned posts for basic subject teachers (including curators and lecturers) across 37 medical colleges, of which 1,624 are filled and 531 remain vacant—nearly 25% of the total.

Earlier this year, the Directorate proposed a 100% incentive, which was approved by the Health Ministry and the Chief Adviser’s office but rejected by the Finance Ministry due to economic constraints. In July, a 50% rate was approved. Following further recommendations from the Health Ministry, the Finance Division finalized the 70% rate on September 25.