The government has formed a 15-member interim pay commission instead of a permanent one because of legal complications.
The implementation division of the finance ministry will issue a gazette tomorrow on an interim pay commission and the new pay commission will submit a report within six months with recommendations for reducing the discrimination of salaries of government staffs under the pay and services commission.
According to finance division sources, former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin will be appointed as the chairman of the interim pay commission on a five-year tenure.
Sources said the other three permanent members of the pay commission will be former local government secretary Sheikh Khurshid Alam, former secretary Sajadul Karim, and former election commission secretary Humayun Kabir.
The rest of the members will come from the finance, commerce, law, labour and health ministries and from Bangladesh Bank, sources said.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Friday the government will issue a gazette on Sunday on a pay commission.
“Because of legal complications, we do not have enough time for a permanent pay commission,” he said.
The minister made the announcement at a function organised by the Bangladesh Audit and Accounts Officers’ Association. The commission will be turned into a permanent one after an elected government assumes office, he added.
Officials of the finance division said the finance ministry would go for an interim pay and services commission as there is not enough time before the next parliamentary polls.
Earlier on November 19, an official of the finance ministry said Muhith had taken the prime minister’s consent on the interim commission.
On Wednesday, Muhith said they had already selected the people for the posts but “we have to settle a few other things before giving them appointment.”
Announcement of the decision to form a permanent pay commission was warmly greeted by 1.3 million public servants who have long been demanding such a body.
Muhith made the announcement less than a month after the government on October 6 awarded 20% dearness allowance for public officials and employees just three months ahead of the next general elections.