Bangladesh, July 11 -- Bangladesh's plan to implement the Ninth National Pay Scale while meeting the conditions of a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) lending programme has emerged as one of the government's most significant fiscal challenges.Maps

As the government moves ahead with its pledge to raise public sector salaries, it is also facing weak revenue collection, persistently high inflation and growing pressure on the banking sector.

Against this backdrop, an IMF mission is scheduled to visit Dhaka from 12 to 16 July to assess the country's fiscal position and discuss a proposed lending programme worth between $4.5 billion and US$5 billion.

According to Finance Ministry officials, the IMF delegation, led by Bangladesh Mission ...