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Government employees across all grades will be brought under a mobile phone allowance for the first time once the new National Pay Scale 2026 comes into effect.
The decision was announced in a Finance Ministry press release following the Cabinet’s approval of the National Pay Scale 2026 on August 31. The move takes into account the growing cost of mobile internet and digital communication for official work.
Currently, officials in grades 1–3 receive Tk1,500 a month, while those in grades 4–5 receive Tk1,000 as a mobile allowance.
The National Pay Commission 2025 had proposed extending the allowance to all grades at the following rates:
Grades 1–3: Tk1,500 per month
Grades 4–5: Tk1,000
Grades 6–10: Tk500
Grades 11–20: Tk400
Implementing the commission’s proposal would have required an additional annual government expenditure of around Tk606 crore, excluding autonomous bodies and corporations.
The secretaries’ committee has agreed in principle to cover all grades but recommended revising the rates to contain the additional financial burden.
Under its recommendation, employees in grades 1–5 would receive Tk500 per month, while those in grades 6–20 would get Tk150.
A committee official said mobile communication has become essential for official duties at every level of government. However, the allowance rates need to be rationalised considering the additional expenditure involved.
The National Pay Scale 2026 will be implemented in phases from July 1, 2026. The government plans to roll it out during the 2026–27 and 2027–28 fiscal years, taking into account its financial implications and potential impact on inflation.
Around 2.4 million military and civilian government employees are expected to benefit from the new pay scale. Another 925,000 retired employees and other eligible beneficiaries will also receive benefits.
The new pay structure will also introduce an allowance for government employees who have children with special needs.Under the proposal, employees will receive Tk3,000 per month for each child with a disability.