Separate pay scale for BB employees?
Two news items published on 19-05-2008 in 'The Ittefaq' and 'The Daily Star' have drawn my attention. First, the caretaker government (CTG) is planning to provide a separate pay scale for the employees of Bangladesh Bank (BB) and the second one is that educationists have emphasised the need for raising the salary of teachers at primary level to ensure quality education by attracting meritorious persons to this profession. It is astonishing to me that the CTG is taking steps to implement the first one ignoring the second. And if it finally happens, a few people will be benefited. But it will obviously create a discrepancy and dissatisfaction among the employees of other government organisations. Because if BB proposed pay scale were implemented, then the salary of third class employees of BB like drivers, telephone operators etc. will be higher than that of a first class cadre service officer ( First class officers' initial salary scale is Tk 6800--13090 and third class BB employees' proposed initial salary scale is Tk 7000--12000). So finding no other option, the employees of other government organisations will also demand a separate pay scale like 'Judiciary employees' pay scale', 'University teachers' pay scale', 'RAB pay scale', 'Administrative cadre service pay scale' and so on. As a result, the aim of the national pay scale will not be attained. But it is a matter of regret that the area the CTG should give much more attention to remains ignored.
Now a government primary school teacher is paid less than the salary of an upper division clerk of a government office and the salary of a non-government primary school teacher is even more measly. As far as I know it is only Tk 750. But all these primary school teachers are playing a vital role in nation building. If the CTG take steps to ensure a separate pay scale for BB employees without enhancing the salary of other professions, particularly the primary school teachers, the whole nation will have to pay for it in future.
If the CTG has to take a decision on the issue, then primary school teachers should get the preference.
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