Govt employees storm Jamuna demanding 9th pay scale gazette, police fire tear gas

Government employees have besieged the Chief Adviser's official residence, Jamuna, demanding the publication and implementation of the gazette for the 9th national pay scale based on the Ninth National Pay Commission's report. Police were seen firing tear gas at the protesters during the demonstration.

On Friday, February 6, around 11:15 am, they broke through a police barricade on the road beside Hotel Intercontinental and took position at the entrance to Jamuna. Government employees chanted various slogans during this time. Shortly after, police were seen firing tear gas at the demonstrators.

Earlier in the morning, government employees had gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, demanding the publication and implementation of the 9th pay scale gazette. From there, they proceeded towards Jamuna.

The protesters stated that the gazette for the 9th pay scale must be published by today, otherwise they would not return home.

They expressed frustration that despite repeated assurances in the past, the gazette has not been published. They also alleged injustice, stating that although the Pay Commission was formed during the interim government's tenure, the failure to publish the gazette constitutes unfair treatment.

Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, stated that the interim government is not taking any decision to implement the new pay scale. He informed that the Pay Commission's report has only been accepted, and no final decision has been made regarding its implementation. A future elected government can repeal or change this decision if it wishes. He shared this information following a meeting of the Government Advisory Committee on Procurement and the Advisory Committee on Economic Affairs on January 27.