Bangladesh Bank Headquarters
Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The officials and employees of the country’s central bank have expressed their frustrations as the authorities announced five incentive bonuses on the basis of their basic salaries as on June 30, 2015 instead of June 30, 2017.
The bonuses were approved at a meeting of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) board of directors held at its headquarters in Dhaka Sunday evening, with Governor Fazle Kabir in the chair.
Being informed about such bonus offer, the officials and employees staged a demonstration at the central bank premises Monday afternoon, demanding review of the announcement.
As per the current pay scale, minimum basic of the BB’s staff is BDT 23,100. It was BDT 11,000 earlier.
A delegation of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council met the BB governor and submitted an appeal, seeking review of the incentive bonuses.
After the an official familiar with the Council told BBN that the governor assured the delegation of taking up the issue with the finance ministry and finalising a decision in this regard upon receiving their clearance.
The BB board is empowered to take any decision in this regard in line with Bangladesh Bank Order 1972 amended in 2003, the official added.
The Council also called an extra ordinary general meeting at the BB on Tuesday for taking next course of action.
Meanwhile, a programme marking the National Mourning Day, scheduled at the BB headquarters on Monday afternoon, could not be held due to the agitation. Finance Minister AMA Muhith was the chief guest of the programme.
“We’ve postponed the programme due to the dismay among the employees and officials over the incentive bonuses,” Hamidul Alam Shakha, member secretary of BB unit of the National Mourning Day Observation Committee, said.
However, a ‘doa and milad mahfil’ was held at the BB mosque, he added.
BBN/SSR/AD