The Interim Government-appointed Public Administration Reform Commission has recommended increasing the age limit for entering government service in Bangladesh to 35 years for men and 37 years for women. Chairman of the Commission, former secretary Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, explained the rationale behind this recommendation during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday.
Why a Higher Age Limit for Women?
The Reform Commission Chairman highlighted that the decision to allow women an additional two years was made to address the unique challenges they face. “Women often can't take competitive exams at the same age as men due to family obligations, marriage, and children. This recommendation is to ensure that more women can participate in government jobs,” he said. He further noted that despite quotas for women in government jobs, the actual numbers remain low. “This proposal is intended to give women a fairer chance to enter the workforce,” he added.
The Commission’s recommendation sets the general entry age limit at 35 for all candidates but extends it to 37 for women. “The reason we proposed a higher age for women is to encourage more female participation. By allowing this flexibility, we hope to see more women sitting for exams and entering the civil service,” Chowdhury explained.
Aligning with Global and Regional Standards
Chowdhury emphasized that the Commission’s recommendation is in line with practices in neighboring countries. “We have consulted with students and looked at the age limits in other countries. Our proposal aligns with global standards. Bangladesh is not doing anything extraordinary by considering this,” he said.
Commission finally recommends raising govt job entry age
Addressing concerns about the potential effect on the retirement age, the Commission Chairman clarified that they made no recommendations regarding extending the retirement age for current government employees. “Those currently in service will retire based on the age rules that were in place when they joined. There is no immediate need to worry about retirement, as those who enter under the new age limit will only retire many years down the line,” he explained.
Currently, the maximum age for entering government service is 30 for general candidates and 32 for those applying under the freedom fighter quota. However, job seekers and students have long been demanding an extension of the entry age to 35. Their campaign gained momentum after protesters gathered in front of the residence of Interim Government Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, on September 30. The police used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them, but the demonstrators persisted and later held a meeting with Yunus.
In response to the protests and growing demands, the Ministry of Public Administration formed a committee to review the age limit for government job applicants. The committee was tasked with submitting its report within seven working days and presented its findings to the Chief Adviser’s office on October 9.