The government on Tuesday raised the online seminar allowances ranging from 80 per cent to 300 per cent for its officials and employees.
The key-note presenter in such an event will now get Tk 4,500 from previous Tk 2,500.
A moderator and a discussant will receive Tk 4,000 from previous Tk 1,000, according to a notification issued by the finance division on the day.
The allowances are hiked at a time when different austerity steps have already been there to save public money against economic woes over the past three years.
A trainee will receive Tk 1,000 from previous Tk500, said the notification, adding that the previous rates fixed in 2021 on the basis of in-house training rates of 2019 would be cancelled.
The finance ministry officials said demands had been placed by other ministries for hikes in other allowances including daily and travel ones, citing an increase in living costs because of elevated inflation over the past three years.
The increase in online allowances came just ahead of 50 per cent salary hikes of the government officials and employees effective from July 1.
It has been calculated that Tk 35,000 crore will be required annually to implement the pay hikes while many doubt if the salary hikes will curb corruption among the bureaucrats.
In the revised budget of the outgoing financial year of 2025-26, around Tk 1,21,299 crore was allocated to clear the perks and package of the public employees and pension of the pensioners.
The revision of allowance also came less than month after upward revision of honorariums for government seminars and workshops held in persons.
On May 27, the allowance for presenting key notes at a seminar or workshop has been increased from Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,500.
For moderators, the rate has been raised from Tk3,000 to Tk4,000.
Additionally, the honorarium for support staff at seminars or workshops has been increased from Tk 1,500 to Tk2,000, and for discussants, from Tk 2,500 to Tk 4,000.
