'No discrimination based on political identity, gazettes to be issued in phases'

The government will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of political identity in recruitment or any other matter as part of its efforts to establish a discrimination-free society, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said.

He made the remarks at an emergency briefing at the Secretariat on Thursday.

The Home Minister clarified the government’s position to dispel confusion surrounding the issuance of the appointment gazette for the 49th BCS (Special Education) cadre.

Addressing confusion over the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) recommendations and the issuance of the gazette, he said the PSC had recommended 665 candidates, not 668 as reported in some media outlets.

He said three candidates were dropped for failing to submit the required certificates, while eight others were excluded for not appearing on the day of the physical fitness (medical) test.

As a result, the total number of candidates eligible to be included in the gazette stood at 657. So far, gazettes have been issued in the names of 611 candidates, leaving 46 candidates.

Salahuddin Ahmed said that after their names were not included in the first gazette, a former office-bearer of a banned student organisation at a Dhaka University hall posted on Facebook threatening to set him on fire.

The Home Minister said gazettes are not always issued in a single phase but are issued in stages. The candidates still have time to join their posts until 12 October.

The minister said the verification of information and administrative procedures concerning the remaining 46 candidates were almost complete. The gazette for the remaining 46 candidates would be issued next Monday.

The Home Minister urged all concerned not to create excitement or political instability at universities or educational institutions through misinformation and propaganda. He also called on job seekers to remain patient.