The public administration ministry on Thursday announced that it would re-evaluate applications from candidates excluded from the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service recruitment process amid protests.
This decision follows the issuance of a directive which opens the opportunity for all excluded candidates to apply for a review, reported United News of Bangladesh.
According to the order, the Public Service Commission had recommended 2,163 candidates for recruitment to various cadres under the 43rd BCS on January 25, 2024.
These recommendations were made after preliminary verifications by the Special Branch of the police and the respective district commissioners, as per Rule 4 of the BCS Recruitment Rules, 1981.
Following further screening, a gazette notification on October 15 finalised the recruitment of 2,064 candidates.
The gazette excluded 99 candidates, comprising 40 who were absent during medical examinations and 59 deemed ineligible based on agency reports.
Concerns regarding the transparency and reliability of the recruitment process prompted further scrutiny. To address these concerns, the ministry decided to reassess the pre-appointment character verification of all 2,163 recommended candidates through the National Security Intelligence and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.
Reports from the intelligence agencies revealed adverse remarks against 227 candidates regarding their character and suitability. Later, these candidates were temporarily deemed ineligible for appointment, with the ministry opting for additional investigation into their cases.
Following the additional scrutiny, a final gazette was issued on December 20, confirming the recruitment of 1,896 candidates.
This figure accounts for the exclusion of the 40 candidates absent from medical examinations and the 227 candidates flagged for adverse remarks, totalling 267 exclusions.
The ministry鈥檚 latest directive ensures that any of the 227 temporarily excluded candidates can submit applications for reconsideration.
The directive emphasises that this opportunity is open to all candidates seeking a review of their exclusion.
Meanwhile, excluded candidates on Thursday held a press conference on Dhaka University premises demanding their inclusion and the issuance of a revised notification by January 5, reports 抖阴精品 Dhaka University correspondent.
Masuma Akter, a member of the education cadre in the first round of gazetted candidates but excluded in the second round, read a written statement at the event.
In her statement, she said that the exclusion made most of the candidates unemployed, leaving their families in despair and social embarrassment.
She further criticised the exclusion, stating, 鈥楨xcluding us from the second gazette, despite our prior inclusion, goes against the spirit of the July revolution, which emphasises a non-discriminatory Bangladesh. The lack of a merit and competence-based civil service contradicts these principles. This situation is deeply painful and disheartening for us.鈥�
Around 50 candidates who were included in the first gazette but excluded in the second attended the press conference.
Earlier, some of the excluded candidates held a sit-in in front of the Secretariat on Wednesday demanding their inclusion.
