Staff Reporter:
Amid protests over the age limit for entering public service, the government has formed a two-member committee to review the issue and recommend changes.
The move follows escalating tensions after a clash between police and demonstrators in Dhaka on Mon-day.
The committee, announced by the Public Administration Ministry, will be led by Abdul Muyeed Chow-dhury, a former secretary and adviser to the former caretaker government. A senior secretary from the Public Administration Ministry will serve as the member secretary. According to the ministry’s official notification, the committee is expected to submit its report within seven working days, following a thor-ough analysis of the current age limit and the overall situation regarding government employment.
Earlier in the day, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of job seekers who gathered in front of the residence of the Chief Adviser in Dhaka’s Ramna Park area. The demonstrators, demanding that the maximum age for entering government service be raised to 35, staged a sit-in protest, which led to clashes with security forces.
Witnesses reported that the protest started around 1:45 pm when a large group of young people attempt-ed to gather in front of the Chief Adviser’s residence. As they moved towards the gate of the Jamuna residence, police blocked their path, sparking a confrontation. The situation quickly escalated when of-ficers resorted to tear gas and baton charges to break up the gathering.
The demand to raise the age limit for government job applicants has been a growing point of contention, with many arguing that the current age cap of 30 is too restrictive given the increased competition and delays in education due to various factors.
