Age Limit for Govt Jobs Raised to 32, BCS Attempts Capped at 3

Government Raises Age Limit for Public Service Jobs to 32, Limits BCS Attempts to Three

The government has decided to set the maximum entry age for public service jobs at 32 years. However, the retirement age for public employees will remain unchanged, following the existing rules. Additionally, candidates will be allowed a maximum of three attempts to sit for the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exam.

The decision was taken today (Thursday) at a meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. During the meeting, the draft of the “Ordinance for Determining the Maximum Age Limit for Direct Recruitment to Government, Autonomous, and Semi-Autonomous Organizations, 2024” was approved, finalizing the decision to raise the age limit to 32 years for public sector employment.

A press briefing was held following the meeting, where the press wing of the Chief Advisor’s Office and the Cabinet Division informed journalists about the new policy.

Long-Standing Demand to Raise the Age Limit

For many years, job seekers have been campaigning to raise the maximum age limit for entering government jobs to 35 years. This demand intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many students and job applicants experienced delays in completing their education. Consequently, they urged the government to adjust the age limit, citing lost opportunities due to the crisis.

In response to these appeals, a review committee had recommended raising the age limit to 35 for male candidates and 37 for females, while leaving the retirement age unchanged.

Formation of Review Committee

On September 30, the government formed a special review committee, led by former Secretary Abdul Muid Chowdhury, who also chaired the Public Administration Reform Commission. The committee conducted a comprehensive review and reported that increasing the age limit would allow more candidates to apply, intensifying competition for government positions.

Existing and New Age Limits

Until now, the general age limit for entry into public service was 30 years, with an extended limit of 32 years for children of freedom fighters under the quota system. Under the new rule, the maximum entry age has been set at 32 for all public service roles, including BCS and other government jobs. Autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions will adjust their recruitment policies accordingly to align with this new age limit.

No Change for Defense and Law Enforcement

However, the policy change does not apply to the defense sector or law enforcement agencies. These sectors will continue to follow their pre-existing recruitment age limits and procedures.

Previous Government’s Stance

During the tenure of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina, several discussions were held about raising the age limit for government jobs. However, the proposal was never implemented. At the time, the government argued that increasing the age limit might give older applicants an advantage over younger candidates, potentially limiting job opportunities for fresh graduates.

Interim Government’s Decision

The current interim government, taking into account the demands of job seekers and the prevailing situation, has decided to raise the entry age to 32 years. This adjustment is expected to provide more opportunities for candidates and address the long-pending demands of job seekers.

This new policy is anticipated to increase competition and ensure the recruitment of skilled individuals into the public administration system. Candidates will now have more time to prepare and apply for BCS and other government jobs, fostering greater inclusion of competent professionals in the public sector.