Making job application free -

The number of unemployed graduates is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, out of every 100 graduates, 48 are unemployed in the country. So, educated jobseekers have to face a fierce competition to get their desired jobs. On average, an educated jobseeker applies for at least three to four jobs per month. And the job-seekers have to pay at least Tk 4,000 as application fees, which most applicants cannot afford. The data of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics show that 77 per cent of these applicants come from poor to lower middle class families. They live in cities, take preparations for attending job exams and earn their livelihood by tutoring students. For them, paying around Tk 1,000 for every test is nothing but a burden.

Charging fee for job application is a common practice in our country. However, it should be within the reach of unemployed youth. We do not know why government offices, including the Bangladesh Civil Service Commission, compel students to pay high application fees. Reducing or taking no fee for a job application is not a serious issue for the government, but it will be of great benefit for jobseekers. We urge the authorities concerned to consider this issue with a generous heart and make arrangements so that educated jobseekers can apply for jobs free of cost.

Md. Rayhan Ali,

Lawyer, Khulna,

advrayhan520@gmail.com