Despite calls for raising age limit, younger candidates dominate BCS results

The maximum age limit for entry into all government jobs in the country, including civil service cadre positions, is 32 years. Job seekers have demanded an increase in the age limit at various times.

However, relatively younger candidates are securing recommendations in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations. This information has emerged from the latest annual report of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC).

Among the candidates recommended for appointment in the 41st BCS, 1,004 were aged between 23 and 25. They accounted for 39.90 percent of the total.

A total of 703 candidates aged between 25 and 27 were recommended, accounting for 27.94 percent. Among those recommended, 489 were aged between 21 and 23 (19.44 percent).

A total of 278 candidates aged between 27 and 29 were recommended (11.05 percent). Candidates aged above 29 were at the bottom of the list. Only 42 candidates, or 1.67 percent, from this age group were recommended.

A similar picture was seen in the 43rd BCS. Of the total candidates recommended, 37.68 percent were aged between 23 and 25. Another 32.27 percent were aged between 25 and 27.

Among candidates aged between 21 and 23, 13.68 percent were recommended. Of those aged between 27 and 29, 14.66 percent were recommended. Only 1.71 percent of candidates aged above 29 were recommended in this BCS.

In other words, older candidates had the lowest recommendation rates in both BCS examinations mentioned in the report.

Professor Mohammad Nazmuzzaman Bhuiyan, chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC), told Asia Post, "I have joined only recently. I will be able to comment on the matter after reviewing the BPSC’s annual report."

The report also showed that male candidates were ahead of female candidates among those recommended in the BCS examinations. In the 41st BCS, a total of 1,844 male candidates were recommended (73.29 percent). In contrast, only 672 female candidates (26.71 percent) were recommended.

A similar picture was seen in the 43rd BCS. Of those recommended, 80.54 percent (1,742 candidates) were male, while 421 candidates (19.46 percent) were female.

In the 38th BCS, 73.09 percent of those recommended were male (1,611 candidates) while 26.91 percent (593 candidates) were female. In the 39th BCS (special), 53 percent of those recommended were male (3,600 candidates) while 47 percent were female (3,192 candidates). In the 40th BCS, 73.97 percent (1,452) of those recommended were male and 26.03 percent (511) were female.

In the 42nd BCS (special), male candidates accounted for 50.98 percent (2,039) of those recommended, while female candidates accounted for 49.3 percent (1,961).