Govt job seekers block Shahbagh demanding 35-yr entry age limit
Staff Correspondent
Job seekers from across the country blocked the capital’s Shahbagh intersection on Saturday noon demanding the interim government raise the maximum age limit for joining public service to 35 years from 30 years.
The demonstration created acute gridlock on all sides of the intersection. The demonstrators, mostly students and young job seekers, justified their demand claiming the age limit was raised to 30 years from 27 years in 1991, when the countrymen’s average life expectancy was 57 years.
As the average lifespan has risen to 73 years over the last 33 years, the job entry age limit should also be raised, they noted. They also referred to 162 foreign countries, including neighbouring India, which have validated 35 years as government job entry age limit based on research works.
The protesters initially held a rally and human chain in front of the National Museum, but all of a sudden moved to block the Shahbagh intersection around 1pm.
Nagorik Oikkya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna joined the movement urging authorities to lift the age limit in government job circulars.
Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahabuddin Shakil told reporters that law enforcers were trying to contain the situation peacefully.
