Govt forms new judicial pay review committee as officials allege delay tactic

The government has formed a seven-member high-level committee, headed by the finance and planning minister, to review the Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission 2025 report and make necessary recommendations.

However, officials from different ministries see the move, coming at the final stage before the much-awaited ninth national pay scale is announced, as a "delay tactic".

The committee, headed by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, includes Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood; Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister AZM Zahid Hossain; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman; Prime Minister's Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir; and State Minister for Public Administration and Food Md Abdul Bari.

A Cabinet Division notification issued on 6 August said the committee may co-opt members if necessary and hold meetings as required. The Finance Division will provide secretarial support, and the committee will take effect immediately.

The government had earlier formed a high-level committee headed by the cabinet secretary to review reports of the National Pay Commission, Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission and Armed Forces Pay Committee and draw up a new pay structure.

Finance ministry sources said the committee has finalised its recommendations.

A joint secretary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "The committee headed by the cabinet secretary reviewed the national, judicial and armed forces pay reports together. Forming another committee at this final stage is nothing but a delaying tactic."

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced in his FY2026-27 budget speech that the new pay structure would be introduced in phases. However, it has yet to be finalised, Finance ministry sources said.

They said the government is proceeding cautiously because of economic and revenue pressures. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended delaying the new pay scale by at least two years.

A decision on its implementation is likely after talks with the IMF on a new loan programme in October.

Finance ministry sources said around Tk44,000 crore of the additional allocation for public administration has been earmarked for the potential implementation of the new pay scale. Fully implementing the Pay Commission's recommendations, however, would require substantial additional spending.

The National Pay Commission 2025 submitted its report to the then interim government on 22 January, recommending a 100% to 140% increase in salaries and allowances of government employees.

It proposed raising the minimum basic salary from Tk8,250 to Tk20,000 and the maximum from Tk78,000 to Tk160,000. The commission estimated that implementing the recommendations would require an additional Tk106,000 crore a year.