Age limit for entry into govt jobs

If one looks at the history of administration in the then British-India, it would be seen that the maximum age limit for entry into a government job was 18. The age limits were changed several times in British-India and Pakistan periods. After emergence of Bangladesh, it was changed again. The present maximum age limit is 30 years at the entry level for all citizens, except freedom fighters' offspring.

According to media reports, speakers at a seminar recently favoured raising the age limit to 35 from 30 for entry into government jobs. In my opinion, if the authorities fix the maximum age limit at 40, then a government employee will be able to serve for 19 years, as the current retirement age is 59. The government has re-fixed the retirement age at 60 years for the workers, who are under the purview of Labour Law 2006. The retirement age for the workers at a public enterprise has also been raised to 60 years by the present government.

In Bangladesh, many candidates cannot get a government job as they cross the present age limit of 30 years for various reasons, including session jam at higher educational institutions and temporary migration to foreign countries for jobs.

As candidates from a minimum age of job entry to the maximum one of 40 years will enter government jobs, they will attain retirement age of 59 years at different times, not in the same year. Moreover, there will not be any dearth of officers at top level. It will offer an advantage to the function of the administration.

Mohd. Ashraf Hossain

Ramna, Dhaka-1000

mah120cb@yahoo.com