45th BCS candidates threaten suicide over exclusion from gazette

Fifty-four candidates, who received the Bangladesh Public Service Commission’s (PSC) final recommendations in the 45th BCS examination but were excluded in the gazette, have demanded their recruitment.

They have threatened to stage a suicide protest in Shahbagh, Dhaka, if the government fails to reach a reasonable decision by 10am on Saturday.

The candidates announced the protest at a press conference and human chain held at the foot of the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University (DU) on Thursday.

They said the government must explain why the candidates were excluded despite completing all stages of the recruitment process and receiving the PSC’s final recommendations.

The candidates alleged that their rights had been violated as the authorities had excluded them without providing specific and justifiable reasons. They urged the government to reconsider the decision and include eligible candidates in the gazette.

They also claimed that many of those excluded were already working in various government institutions and that none of the candidates present at the programme had criminal cases or allegations of anti-state activities against them. They warned that excluding candidates on political grounds would amount to discrimination.

Noor Alam, one of the candidates excluded from the gazette, shared his experience, saying he had been recommended for the Ansar cadre in the 44th BCS and was currently working as an assistant director. Despite receiving a recommendation for the police cadre in the 45th BCS, he was excluded from the latest gazette.

Questioning the decision, he said, "I received the necessary clearance to join the service through the 44th BCS. If I was eligible then, why have I been excluded from the gazette in the 45th BCS? The government must explain the reasons behind this decision."

Another candidate, Ekram Gazi Hridoy, said he had been recommended for the administration cadre but was not included in the gazette.

He said, "None of the candidates present here has any criminal case or criminal record. The government promised that no one would be deprived of opportunities on political grounds. We want that promise to be implemented immediately."

At the press conference, another candidate said securing a government job based on merit and qualifications was a fundamental right of every citizen. He claimed that the candidates had secured their recommendations through their own merit rather than question leaks or other irregularities.

He urged the government to examine allegations against individuals on a case-by-case basis and include eligible candidates who had no relevant criminal allegations in the gazette.

Explaining the recruitment figures, a candidate said the notification for the 45th BCS was published on 30 November 2022, and the PSC recommended 1,807 candidates on 27 November 2025. However, the final gazette published by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday included 1,702 candidates for appointment to various cadres, leaving 105 recommended candidates out of the gazette.

According to the protesters, 48 of the 105 candidates did not attend the medical examination, while 54 others completed all the required stages but were not included in the gazette. They demanded a clear explanation for the exclusion of the latter group.

The candidates said the state had a responsibility to protect citizens’ fundamental and constitutional rights. They argued that the authorities should provide specific and reasonable grounds for excluding candidates who had successfully completed the recruitment process.

One candidate also described his involvement in various political movements, including campaigns demanding a caretaker government, protests in 2013 and 2014, the 2018 quota reform movement and the 2024 anti-discrimination movement.

He questioned whether participation in political movements had influenced the decision to exclude candidates, demanding that the government clarify the basis for its decision.

The candidate said they had hoped for a Bangladesh free from exploitation and discrimination following the July uprising. He added that assurances from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman about establishing the rule of law and protecting citizens’ constitutional rights had raised their expectations.

"Despite the assurances that no one would face discrimination because of their political identity, we have been excluded without any clear and justifiable reason," he said, urging the government to ensure a fair decision.

Drawing the attention of the prime minister and the home minister, the candidates demanded that the authorities reconsider their cases and uphold their constitutional rights.

They set 10 am on Saturday as the deadline for a decision and warned that they would stage a suicide protest in Shahbagh if the government failed to provide a reasonable solution. They reiterated their demand for the inclusion of the 54 candidates in the 45th BCS gazette