Talking to reporters at the Zia International Airport before leaving Dhaka for Washington and Istanbul on an 11-day tour, Saifur explained why the cabinet meeting on Saturday did not finalise the proposal for pay scale.

"The proposal for the new pay scale was not discussed at the meeting because it contained some issues that needed political decisions," he said adding that he could not make time to see the proposal thoroughly.

"I was too busy last month," explained Saifur who had a hectic schedule for negotiating with an International Monetary Fund mission on Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) loans and attending budget preparatory meetings.

"Announcement of every pay scale follows protest by some employees who claim they are deprived and others are getting excess benefits. Therefore, the pay scale needs to be harmonised," the minister said without elaborating.

Saifur also told reporters that the national budget for 2004-05 fiscal year will be announced on June 9.

The secretary-level committee proposal placed at the cabinet last Saturday suggested that the private educational institutions under the government's monthly payment order (MPO) should receive funds according to their performances and a committee will evaluate their performances.

The proposal also recommended that second class officials will get 50 percent selection grade while all the BCS cadre officials will get full selection grade. The proposal also suggested two-day weekly holiday on Friday and Saturday.

"I have told the prime minister that it will take a few more days to review the proposal," Saifur told reporters yesterday.

He said the government employees will get their increased salaries from June as per the previous announcement as funds have been arranged.

During his trip to Washington and Istanbul, Saifur said he will attend the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors in Istanbul on May 5 to discuss ADB's future policy issues.

He will also sit with six other finance ministers of South Asia under the auspices of the ADB. "We will discuss bilateral and regional cooperation issues at the meeting."

"The ADB will provide 700 million dollars this fiscal, including 180 million dollars loan for flood rehabilitation," Saifur noted. "So far ADB has given Bangladesh seven billion dollars in loan and it is the biggest institutional donor now."

In Washington, Saifur will meet the new World Bank (WB) president and seek his clarification whether the WB will continue its present policy of "programme-based loans" or revert to "project-based loans."