Pay Commission doing ‘substantive’ work, rollout a separate issue: finance advisor

Uncertainty remains over whether a new pay scale can be introduced under the interim government

The National Pay Commission formed to prepare a new salary structure for government employees is carrying out “substantive” work, according to Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed.

However, he also drew a clear distinction between the commission’s work and the question of implementation during the tenure of the interim government.

After a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Salehuddin briefed reporters on the status of the proposed pay scale.

Asked whether the new pay structure would be finalised and introduced under the Muhammad Yunus-led government, the advisor said the issue could only be addressed once the commission’s report was submitted.

He added that the commission had received multiple delegations from stakeholders, with many meeting commission members directly.

“We have told them that several committees have been formed, with open interactions,” he said.

The advisor did not specify when the report would be submitted.

"The commission has not stopped its work; they are working uninterrupted," Salehuddin said. "They are in contact with us. A separate report for the judiciary will be included, alongside a sub-committee report for the defence forces.

“Once these three are integrated, the government will receive the final document."

The Pay Commission, headed by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, was formed on Jul 27 last year and asked to submit its report within six months.

Uncertainty remains over both the timing of the report and whether it would be implemented once submitted.

A full meeting of the commission was held on Thursday. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, meanwhile, said on Saturday that announcing a new pay structure during the current government’s tenure was “not possible”.

When asked about the governor’s comment, Salehuddin said the central bank chief had no role in decisions on the pay scale.

“If the governor speaks, he can speak on Bangladesh Bank matters,” he said. “The pay scale is not his issue. It is entirely a government matter.”

Beyond the pay scale, the finance advisor addressed potential energy security concerns arising from geopolitical instability in Iran and Venezuela.

He dismissed fears of an immediate crisis, noting that a long-term plan has already been established.

“Energy remains a major challenge. If we cannot ensure it, there will be problems,” he said.

“There are two aspects: power and energy. A comprehensive plan has been prepared covering both electricity and energy supply, including local production.”