The government has issued a revised gazette reappointing 96 officers to different Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadres under the first result of the 27th BCS examination, more than a decade after the recruitment process became entangled in legal disputes and controversy.
Although all of the officers are already serving in various government cadres, the latest move formally restores their original cadre appointments in line with court directives linked to the long-running 27th BCS case.
Officials said the appointments would carry retrospective seniority benefits, though no financial arrears would be provided.
The notification was issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Public Administration.
According to the gazette, the candidates have been appointed to entry-level posts in various Bangladesh Civil Service cadres following recommendations made by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission in the first phase of the 27th BCS examination held in 2005.
Under the revised gazette notification, the appointed officers will receive salaries ranging from Tk 22,000 to Tk 53,060 under the National Pay Scale 2015.
The gazette also stated that, in order to preserve the seniority of the newly appointed candidates, their appointments will take effect retrospectively from the date on which the first appointment notification for their batch was issued.
Their notional seniority will be counted from the joining date specified in the first appointment notification of their batch. However, they will not be entitled to any arrears or financial benefits on this account.
It further stated that the seniority between the officers appointed at this stage through the 27th BCS Examination-2005 and those already serving through the same examination will be determined in accordance with the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court.
Among the appointees, the highest number, 48 officers, have been recruited to the administration cadre as assistant commissioners.
In addition, 13 officers have been appointed to the police cadre, four to the health cadre, four to the tax cadre, and three to the telecommunications cadre, while the remaining officers have been appointed to several other cadres.
The gazette also stated that the newly appointed officers will have to undergo foundation training at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) or other government-designated institutions.
They will also be required to complete a two-year probationary period. Their appointments will be confirmed upon successful completion of the training, departmental examinations and probation period.
The appointees have been asked to join their respective cadre-controlling ministries or divisions by the forenoon of May 18, 2026. The gazette warned that failure to join within the stipulated time would result in cancellation of the appointment.
Talking to The Financial Express on condition of anonymity, a deputy secretary said he had initially been recommended for the police cadre. However, after the results were revised following the second viva examination, he was recommended for the information cadre.
He later joined the information cadre and subsequently switched to the administration cadre, where he is currently serving as a deputy secretary. He said it would no longer be worthwhile for him to join the police cadre now.
"However, it is a matter of dignity for me, which is why I have filed the writ petition," he said.
Earlier, on February 20, 2025, a full bench of the Appellate Division led by Syed Refaat Ahmed ordered the appointment of 1,137 candidates who had been deprived of jobs from the 27th BCS examination around one and a half decades ago.
As the Appellate Division upheld the High Court verdict, the 1,137 candidates became eligible to join government service with cadre seniority within 90 days.
A total of 3,567 candidates had passed the first viva voce examination of the 27th BCS.
In 2007, the caretaker government cancelled the results of the first viva examination over allegations of irregularities and corruption and conducted a second viva examination.
The successful candidates challenged the legality of the cancellation of the first viva results by filing a writ petition.
On July 3, 2008, the High Court declared the cancellation of the first viva results of the 27th BCS examination lawful.
The writ petitioners later filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Appellate Division against the verdict.
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