Increasing the government job entry age limit hinges entirely on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s consent, as evidenced by the inaction despite a proposal from the education minister and ongoing pressure from job seekers.

The current limit sits at 30 years old, a point of contention for many young Bangladeshis struggling to find work after their studies. 

On 17 April this year, Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury in a due letter (unofficial) proposed an increase to 35, but sources at the public administration ministry told the Daily Sun that the proposal is gathering dust without the Prime Minister’s green light.

Officials said the public administration ministry will discuss with the prime minister regarding the education minister’s letter to raise the age of entry into government service. If the prime minister gives any new instructions, action will be taken accordingly, they added.

Seeking anonymity, one of the officials, said, “Since the prime minister herself hasn't taken a stance on increasing the entry age for government jobs, no formal proposal has been sent from the Ministry of Public Administration regarding this matter. If no new directives come from the Prime Minister's office, the ministry won't take any action.”

Presently, the maximum age limit for entry into government service is 30 years. Candidates of various quotas, including freedom fighters, can apply for entry into government jobs up to the age of 32 years. The age of retirement from government service is 59 years.

Government job aspirants have protested several times in the last decade to make the age of entry into government service 35 years.

Currently, the age limit for applying for jobs in 162 countries is 35 years. The maximum age limit for applying for state-wise jobs in India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka is 45 years, while it's 40 in China and 35 in Nepal and Afghanistan. Some countries have separate age limits for men and women.

In a press conference on 8 July 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that if the age limit for entering the service is made 35 years, it will be a pathetic situation.

On that day, she said that after completing the SSC examination in 16 years and the HSC examination in 18 years, the students can complete four years of Honours and one year of post-graduation in 23 years. It may take 24-25 years to complete post-graduation if delayed for any reason.

Arguing in favour of not increasing the age of entry into the job, the Prime Minister said if job seekers are allowed to enter the job at the age of 35, then they will have houses, families, wives and children. So, it is difficult to get a job at this age.

“Also, if a candidate joins the service at 35 then after training, he/she will be 37 to start service. If he/she enters service at this age, his/her service age will not be 25 years. Otherwise, he/she will not get a full pension in service.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her stance against raising the age of entry into government jobs in a press conference on 15 May 2023 and also addressed it during the 11th National Parliament session.

Insiders say to raise the age of entry into government service, the Ministry of Public Administration should take the initiative. However, officials from the department stated that currently, no action is being taken in this regard.

Regulation Wing Chief (Additional Secretary) Md Mohidul Islam told Daily Sun, “There is currently no initiative to raise the age of entry and retirement in government service. We don't have any instructions on this either. If the government gives any instructions, we will work.”

Speaking to the Daily Sun, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain, said, “The education minister has sent a proposal to increase the age in government jobs. I will discuss my matter with the Prime Minister. We will take the Prime Minister's advice.”

Farhad Hossain hinted that the entry age for government jobs is not increasing at the moment, although he did not directly address the issue.

He said, “The matter has already been presented before the prime minister. Members of Parliament raised questions in the last Parliament, and the prime minister answered them. But she said there, the maximum tenure will be 30, and the tenure of freedom fighters will be 32 years.”

Highlighting the issue of raising the retirement age from 57 years to 59 years, Farhad Hossain said, “If the age of entry into the service is increased, there is the issue of retirement age. If the recruitment age is to be increased, changes should be made everywhere, starting from recruitment. Special work has to be done with it.”

Shariful Hasan Shuvo, convener of the General Student Coordination Council, a platform dedicated to increasing the age limit, said, “We are talking to ministers, members of parliament, presidents of parliamentary committees, and leaders of student organisations to push for the implementation of our demand."

“We hope the government will decide on the education minister's directive. If no positive decision is taken after that, we will go for strict agitation.” He also said that a rally will be held in front of Dhaka University's Raju Sculpture on 11 May to strengthen the movement to increase the job application age limit to 35.