Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
Several thousand job seekers blocked Shahbagh intersection demanding raising of the age limit to 35 years for the government jobs.
Over 7000 students coming from different colleges and universities under the banner of “Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Parishad”, gathered at the Shahbagh intersection to press home their demand on Saturday afternoon.
Different strata of professional bodies applauded the demonstrators and they termed the demand of the agitators as logical and practical.
The demonstrators had been staging demonstrations in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka since January 27 under the banner of “Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Parishad.”
The agitators, who were also on hunger strike since February 2, suspended their program from February 11 to 14.
Protesters said that age limit should be increased as students failed to graduate on time because of session lag, and even private organizations avoid appointing candidates over 30 years of age. They said when average life expectancy was 45 years, age limit for government jobs was 27, when life expectancy was 50, age limit was 30, and now that average life expectancy is 72, age limit should also be raised. “We have a great hope that government will fix the age limit at 35 years for the government jobs immediately by considering the recent recommendations of Standing Committee for Public Administration Ministry,” Imtiaj Ahmed, Convener of the Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Parishad.
It is a very logical and fair demand for raising the age limit as students generally finished university education at the age of 28. “We hope that the government will meet our demand soon,” he said.
If government decides to take necessary step for attending the ongoing 40th BCS application procedure till November 15 then more than two lakh job seekers will get jobs in cadre service,” he added.
“On January 31, 2012, when the President Abdul Hamid was the speaker of the Parliament, he brought the matter of raising the maximum age to 35 to the prime minister’s attention. This gave the youths hope. But we have seen no effort to implement it. The proposal was accepted by the Parliament, but was not implemented” he added.
Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Md Akhtaruzzman said, “Raising the age limit has positive aspects.
“We can also fix it at 40, but then the number of job seekers will increase immensely.” Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Dr Muhammed Sadique told the media, “We only follow government’s directions. Age limit is fixed by the government not by us.”
Talking about age limit abroad, he said: “It is flexible in case of contractual appointments. Even we have the same facilities. We can’t compare contractual and regular service.”
Hosne Ara Shefali, Principal of Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, has said: “After affiliation of seven colleges with Dhaka University, we will face some session lag, but it will be solved once the results are published.”
Shahinul Islam, a student of Dhaka University, said, “The government must fulfil our demand. Why shall we be deprived of our right?
“According to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have achieved middle income status. Then why shouldn’t we get scope like the other countries where the age limit is more than 35 years?”
Citing examples of countries like Russia, Hong Kong, South Korea and the UK, he said qualified people can get jobs even a day before retirement in these countries.
Sabina Akter Sheuly, a Vice President of Chhatra League, has said: “Many students remain involved in politics in college and university till they are 29 years. In that case, how can they prepare themselves for job sector in a single year?”
Results of master’s examination for 2014, which was completed in July 2017, has not been published while the exam date of 2015, 2016 and 2017 sessions are yet to be fixed, said Namul Hossain, a former student of Dhaka University.
Arafat Hossain, a job seeker and protester said, “We have yet to accept the demands of 2.6 million highly-educated youths. If the maximum age is not raised, it could hamper the country’s development. We have made inquiries into 107 countries around the world and have learned that similar jobs in the US, Canada and Europe have an age limit of 35 to 59 for applicants.
Even in India the maximum age is from 35 to 45. So our demands are quite reasonable.”
