The gazette notification for the remaining 46 candidates recommended for appointment under the 49th Special Bangladesh Civil Service (Education) examination will be issued on Monday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Thursday.
“No one will face discrimination in recruitment due to their political identity, but all necessary procedures, including verification, must be completed in accordance with the rules before appointment,” he said while speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat.
A total of 668 candidates were recommended for appointment under the 49th Special BCS, but the Public Service Commission (PSC) actually recommended 665 candidates as three candidates failed to submit the required certificates.
Besides, eight candidates did not appear for their medical examinations, bringing down the number of selected candidates to 657, Salahuddin said.
Of them, gazette notifications for 611 candidates have already been issued, leaving the process pending for 46 other candidates, he said.
“It is not necessary that the gazette notification must be issued all at once,” the minister said, adding that Monday has been set for issuing the gazette notification for the remaining 46 candidates.
He said he discussed the matter with the state minister for public administration, public administration secretary and cabinet secretary. “After completing the formalities, the gazette notification will be issued on Monday,” he said, adding that as their joining date is October 12, there is still time to complete the necessary procedures.
Regarding allegations of discrimination in recruitment based on political affiliation, Salahuddin said the July 2024 mass uprising was driven by a commitment to establish a discrimination-free state and society.
“Regardless of anyone’s political identity, there will be no discrimination on that ground in any examination or government recruitment,” he said.
Referring to a candidate’s recent threat on social media to commit suicide or set himself on fire after his name was not included in the gazette notification for the 49th BCS, the minister said the candidate had been an office-bearer of a banned student organisation at a hall unit of Dhaka University, serving as its joint general secretary.
He said the candidate suspected that he would not be given an appointment because of his political identity. “However, the gazette notification could be issued in several phases,” he said, urging candidates not to become agitated but instead to wait.
Salahuddin said police verification is a regular and mandatory procedure for government recruitment and is conducted in accordance with the rules under every government.
Similarly, medical examinations and submission of the required certificates are also mandatory, he said.
Explaining the procedure when allegations of serious crimes are found during verification, the minister said such allegations are verified through police.
“If someone has a conviction for an offence, the matter is considered in accordance with the rules until the conviction is withdrawn or the person is acquitted on appeal,” he said.
Responding to another political leader’s remarks on social media calling for an end to alleged harassment in the name of verification, Salahuddin said there is no basis for describing the verification process as a “malpractice or harassment”.
However, if a verification-related problem arises because of a serious allegation against someone, the person can later submit a complaint or application to the ministry and request an investigation, he said. “However, the matter has not reached that stage yet,” he said.
The minister urged all concerned not to attempt to create unrest at universities and other educational institutions.
He urged those concerned not to provoke young students for the purpose of creating political instability.