Staff Correspondent

Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain told the parliament on Wednesday that the government has no plan to raise the age limit for joining public services as it would significantly increase competition among job candidates and frustrated those aged below 30.

In response to a query by independent lawmaker Shamim Shahnewaz, the public administration minister said that unlike in previous decades, at present there is no significant session jam in the country’s education sector.

An individual can complete his/hers master’s studies by the age of 23/24 and get at least six years to study for government job recruitment exams until turning 30, the present mandated maximum age limit.

There is no need for further opportunities for candidates to study and take other preparations for joining public services, the minister implied in his remarks.

Referring to a Public Service Commission report, Farhad said that 43rd BCS exam data shows the youngest cohort of candidates, aged 23-25 years, get the most recommendations for joining services by accounting for 37.68% of the total recommendations. Conversely, the eldest eligible group, aged 29-30, get the lowest recommendations at just 1.71%.

As the retirement age has been raised to 59 years from 57 years, the number of vacancies in government jobs has naturally fallen.

And in this backdrop, an increase in the candidate number, with more senior ones joining the race, would starkly worsen rivalry for a single available vacancy in the public sector, resulting in the aged and experienced candidates crowding out the youngest ones, Farhad noted. The situation would invariably cause hard-to-control frustrations among the youngsters, the minister added.