Finance Minister Signals Caution Over 9th Pay Scale Implementation

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Minister emphasized that the government must evaluate the feasibility of the pay scale against the current tax-to-GDP ratio, which remains one of the lowest in South Asia.

The Minister clarified that the government's first priority is to scrutinize the Pay Commission's recommendations to determine the total financial impact. He noted that while the aspirations of government employees are understood, the state’s revenue capacity is currently at a critical stage, making it a challenge to shoulder such a massive expenditure immediately. He vowed to bring professionalism and transparency to the financial institutions before committing to large-scale fiscal burdens.

The 9th National Pay Commission submitted its report on January 21, 2026, proposing a significant hike in basic pay—raising the minimum salary from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the maximum from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000. Implementing these recommendations is estimated to cost the national exchequer an additional Tk 1.06 trillion. While the newly elected government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had hinted at timely implementation, the Finance Minister's stance suggests a more cautious, phased approach subject to rigorous financial testing.