The Crime Desk: The Ministry of Public Administration has finalized the draft of the ‘Maximum Age Limit Ordinance, 2024, for direct recruitment in self-governing organizations including government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, statutory government authorities, and public non-financial corporations’ by setting the same age limit for all. The age limit for entry into draft government service is being raised to 35 years for both men and women.
Sources in the chief adviser’s office confirmed that the draft of the proposed ordinance may be presented at the next advisory council meeting for approval. However, no official responsible for the matter agreed to speak.
Cabinet department sources said that on Wednesday (October 16), the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, will officially take charge. If everything goes well, the regular meeting of the advisory council will be held on Thursday at the chief adviser’s office. There the draft of the proposed ordinance may be presented for approval.
According to the proposed draft, in view of the demands of the students, a committee was formed on September 30 to examine and review the issue of increasing the age limit for entering government jobs.
The committee collects information on employment age limits and international standards in various countries. Besides, the causes of irregularities in employment are also collected. After reviewing the overall issue, it is recommended to increase the age limit for entry to the service from 30 to 35 years for men and 30 to 37 years for women, but there are various rules and regulations for government officials and employees for direct recruitment. Each statutory government authority has separate rules and regulations for direct recruitment.
There are separate laws, statutes, and regulations for universities and other self-governing and autonomous institutions. Therefore, for the purpose of universal provision, fixing the maximum age limit for direct recruitment to 35 years instead of 30 years in the posts where the maximum age limit for direct recruitment is mentioned in the posts of government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, statutory government authorities, public non-financial corporations, etc., a draft ordinance titled ‘Ordinance, 2024’ has been prepared.
Earlier, last Monday, the age limit for entering government service had been recommended to be 35 years for men and 37 years for women, said Abdul Mueed Chowdhury, the head of the committee formed in this regard.
The convener of the committee said, ‘We have also spoken to the students. I also saw neighboring countries. Our recommendations are consistent with the age limits in different countries. So Bangladesh is not different from the world. I have heard that the matter will be discussed in the advisory council meeting; they will decide on it. We have done this because neighboring countries have such facilities. We have not discovered anything new.’
Stating that the committee did not make any recommendations regarding the retirement of government employees, he said, “It is long time for those who have made recommendations to retire after serving.” The government will be able to take a decision after thinking about many things.
