New pay scale to be implemented to reduce corruption: Finance Minister

A new pay scale is being implemented to curb corruption, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said.

The minister made the remark at a post-budget press conference organised at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Friday afternoon, June 12.

"When people are in need, they become corrupt," the finance minister said. "Increasing salaries will meet the needs of government employees. This will reduce corruption."

He noted that government officials and employees have not received any increment for 11 years, yet the prices of everything have increased. "This needs to be balanced. It cannot be that government employees must suffer," he said.

"We hope that their needs will be met, and corruption will decrease. Their income will increase, and their standard of living will improve. Corruption will naturally reduce as a result," the finance minister added.