Kamrul Hasan: Leaders of the Bangladesh Government Officers and Employees Welfare Association have warned of launching tough if the final recommendations of the 9th pay scale are not formulated, gazetted, and implemented in the upcoming national budget.

The warning was issued by the organization’s central convener, Md. Abdul Malek, at a representatives’ rally and discussion meeting organized by the Manikganj district unit on Friday (April 24) at the Mother and Child Welfare Center auditorium in Manikganj. The meeting also demanded the দ্রুত formulation of the final recommendations, gazette publication, and implementation of the 9th pay scale.

The meeting was chaired by Md. Faridul Islam, convener of the Manikganj district unit of the association, and featured a by the central committee’s Member Secretary, Ashikul Islam, as the keynote speaker.

In his speech as the chief guest, Md. Abdul Malek urged the newly reconstituted secretary committee to promptly submit the final recommendations to the government, considering the current hardships faced by nearly 2.2 million government employees and their families, and to play an effective role in implementing the pay scale. He noted that government employees have been facing financial difficulties as the salary structure has not been revised for 11 years. Limited opportunities for promotion and time-scale benefits have further complicated the situation.

Rising living costs have made it increasingly difficult to bear expenses related to education, healthcare, house rent, gas, electricity, and water.

Keynote speaker Ashikul Islam said that if adequate budget allocation is not ensured in the upcoming budget for the implementation of the 9th pay scale, government employees will fall into deeper financial distress due to mounting debt. He strongly urged the government to publish the gazette and implement the pay scale without delay.

The meeting began with a welcome speech by Md. Azizur Rahman, Member Secretary of the district unit.

Among others present as special guests were Shahidul Islam, Joint Convener of the association’s Manikganj unit; Md. Golam Wazed Shihab, President of the Bangladesh Diploma Medical Association, Manikganj; Md. Lutfur Rahman, President of the Bangladesh Diploma Pharmacists Association, Manikganj; Md. Bokul Hossain, President of the District Family Planning Inspectors Association; Md. Farid Molla, President of the Health Assistants Association, Harirampur Upazila; Joint Member Secretaries Aklima Akter, Saidur Rahman, Ehesanul Haque Shahin, and Tarikul Islam, along with other leaders.

Speakers at the rally unanimously demanded the gazette publication and swift implementation of the 9th pay scale.