State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday said the government has no plan to raise the age limit for entering government job.The state minister said this while replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP Habibe Millat ( Sirajganj-2).Explaining the much talked about issue, the minister said that raising the age limit for entering services would make the recruitment test more competitive and create frustration among those below 30 years of age.Farhad said in the past there was huge session jams in various educational institutions including universities but now it can be said that there is no significant session jam. Also read: Entering govt jobs: Farhad says no chance to relax age limit“As a result, students usually get SSC degree in 16 years, HSC in 18 years, and post graduate degree in 23/24 years. The maximum age limit for general candidates to enter the job is 30 years, so even after obtaining a master's degree, they have at least 6/7 years to apply for the job,” the state minister said.In addition, Farhad said that if a candidate within 30 years of age applies for the job, even if it takes 1/2 years to complete the recruitment process, it is not counted.He said the number of vacancies has come down naturally as the retirement age has been raised from 57 to 59 recently. Also read: Job seekers block city roads demanding extension of age limit for govt job“In this context, if the age limit for entry into the job is increased, the number of job seekers for different positions will increase at a huge rate. This can lead to more competition in recruitment. This can lead to frustration among candidates under the age of 30, even if those who are above 30 years of age will get the opportunity to apply for getting job,” the state minister also said.

Farhad Reza grabbed four wickets inside just 14 runs in the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League between BCB South Zone and Walton Central Zone on Monday, probing once again his credentials as one of best all-rounders in domestic play. Before his late outburst with the ball on day two, Zakir Hasan of BCB South Zone scored the fourth First-calls ton in his last five innings in the format. He ended up on unbeaten 107, and riding on his century and fifties from Anamul Haque, Pinak Ghosh and Farhad Reza, South Zone amassed a challenging 387 in the first innings of the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Also read: Unfazed by names, I played deliveries, Mahmudul says after his maiden fifty vs NZ Losing their last five wickets, South Zone added up 126 runs to their overnight total of 261. At the end of day one, Zakir and Farhad were unbeaten for 44 and 46 respectively. While Zakir added 63 more to his innings, Farhad ended on 71 adding 25 more runs. In the sixth wicket stand, Zakir and Farhad added 119 runs to the board. For Central Zone, left-arm spinner Hasan Murad scalped five wickets— his fifth five-wicket haul in the format. Shuvagata Hom and Abu Hider Rony bagged three and two wickets respectively. Also read: Bangladesh hold firm after imperious batting display While replying to South Zone’s first innings, Central Zone’s top order fell prey to Farhad. He bagged four wickets before Central Zone posted 20 runs on the board. But in the unbeaten fifth wicket, Mohammad Mithun and Shuvagata amassed 168 runs and helped the team score 184 for four at the end of day two. Central Zone are trailing by 203 runs. Mithun remained unbeaten for 102, and Shuvagata for 67. It was the second century of Mithun in this year’s BCL. On both occasions, Mithun batted as an opener— his newest role in professional cricket.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday told Parliament that the government has no plan to raise the maximum age limit for taking up government jobs. Defending the government’s stance, he said if the age limit is raised, the competition will intensify creating a frustration among the jobseekers aged below 30 amid the low vacant posts. “Right now the government has no plan to raise the age limit for entering the government services,” said the state minister replying to a tabled question from BNP MP Mosharof Hosen (Bogura-4). Also read: Rules don’t permit to address govt officials as sir or madam: Farhad Farhad said now there is no serious session jams in different educational institutes, including universities, as in the past when a student normally completed SSC at the age of 16 years, HSC at 18 years and graduation at 23-24 years. The students get some 6-7 years in hand to apply for government jobs, he said.