Scrapping the system of risk allowance as a percentage of gross salary, the government has recently fixed certain amounts for RAB and police employees as risk allowance.
In August 2013, the government approved 30% and 70% of gross salaries as risk allowance for RAB employees and four posts of police.
That came in the wake of the deteriorating law and order situation centring the BNP-led alliance’s countrywide violent protest to prevent the January 5, 2014 national elections.
The recent changes were made in line with a recommendation of the 8th National Pay and Services Commission which said the risk allowance for law enforcers, detectives and intelligence agency personnel should be rationalised.
Earlier, other government officials, who are not entitled to risk allowances, have reportedly told the commission that the risk allowance was discriminatory.
Under the previous 7th pay scale, the basic salary of the RAB director general was Tk38,000-Tk40,000. On that count, the post accounted for a maximum risk allowance of Tk28,000 – 70% of Tk40,000.
In the recently implemented 8th pay scale, the RAB DG’s basic salary has gone up to Tk63,000 to Tk76,000. If the previous system remained, then the DG would have been entitled to a maximum of Tk53,529 monthly risk allowance.
However, according to a Finance Division circular dated October 18, 2015 and signed by Additional Secretary Tapan Kumar Saha, the RAB DG would from now on get a fixed amount of Tk24,000 as monthly risk allowance.
According to a list of all the RAB employees, the additional director general of the force would now get Tk22,000, director Tk20,000 and so on. The lowest Tk3,000 was fixed for cleaners, ward boys, office assistants, gardeners, etc.
Another Finance Division circular issued on the same date and with the same signature fixed monthly risk allowance for four posts of police force as well.
According to the four-point list included in the circular, police sub-inspectors (SIs), sergeants and trainee sub-inspectors (TSIs) are entitled to Tk2,700 to Tk5,400 as risk allowance depending on the length of their jobs.
In the previous percentage system, police employees were entitled to 30% of their basic salaries as risk allowance. Under that system, an SI – whose basic pay was Tk8,000 – used to get Tk2,400 in risk allowance.
In the 8th pay scale, an SI’s monthly basic salary has gone up to Tk16,000. So, if the previous system prevailed, the SI would have got Tk4,800 as risk allowance.
The circulars said the new risk allowance scheme would come into effect on July 1, 2016 and any employees sent on deputation would not be entitled to the risk allowances.
No officials of any of the law enforcement agencies were ready to say anything on record regarding the changes in the allowance.
Interestingly, all RAB employees are entitled to risk allowances but in case of police, only four types of employees get the allowance. They are: SI/sergeant/TSI, assistant sub-inspector (ASI), naik and constable. Of them, constables now get the lowest risk allowance of Tk1,500-3,200 based on their job length.
Police officials above these posts are not entitled to risk allowance.
Seeking anonymity, an inspector posted in Dhaka said: “After getting promoted to the post of inspector, I stopped getting risk allowance. I am not entitled to bodyguards or cars either that police station officers-in-charge and officials above that post enjoy.”
He also said: “Inspectors do not sit in the police station and relax. They have to perform duties in dangerous situations, risking their lives.”
