The government of Bangladesh has decided to slow down the implementation of the new national pay scale due to financial constraints. As a result, uncertainty has arisen over when the long-awaited pay scale for government employees will take effect. The issue may be discussed in the upcoming session of the national parliament.

According to the Finance Division, nearly all of the Tk 40,000 crore reserved in the 2025–26 budget for the pay scale has already been spent on other sectors. Of this, Tk 24,000 crore went to fuel subsidies, Tk 15,000 crore to agricultural loans and social safety programs, and Tk 38.07 crore to the Family Card project. Only Tk 961.93 crore remains available for the pay scale. Officials said implementing such a large-scale financial reform is unrealistic under current conditions, as global energy market volatility and import costs have heavily impacted fiscal planning.

Government employees have expressed disappointment but hope for at least partial adjustments. The proposed scale suggests a minimum salary of Tk 20,000 and a maximum of Tk 160,000, with 20 grades and a reduced ratio of 1:8 between the lowest and highest pay levels.