Job seekers give govt three days to raise age limit for public service

Proponents of raising the maximum age to apply for a public sector job in Bangladesh have given a three-day ultimatum to the interim government to certify the recommendations of a review committee on the matter.

The demand was made during a media briefing at Dhaka University's Madhur Canteen on Sunday after Public Administration Reform Commission chief Abdul Muid Chowdhury called for the age bar to be raised to 35 for men and 37 for women.

"The commission has acknowledged our arguments and conducted thorough research, leading to their recommendation for revised age limits. We now expect the government to swiftly implement these changes through an official notification," Imtiaz Hosain, a spokesperson for the movement, said.

"If the government fails to issue the notification within the next three working days, we are prepared to escalate our response and take to the streets."

Al Amin Raju, another advocate for the reform, outlined arguments for setting the age limit for employment entry at 35 in Bangladesh.

"In many developed nations, individuals can enter the workforce up to the age of 59 or even the day before they retire. Given this, it would be appropriate for Bangladesh, as a developing country, to relax its age restrictions for employment."

"Raising the age limit for government job applications has no financial drawbacks for the government but is profoundly beneficial for societal welfare. This change would greatly benefit millions of educated young people, their families, and ultimately the entire population," he added.

Noting that the average lifespan in Bangladesh is 72.3 years, he believes the country could reasonably increase the age limit to 55 years without difficulty.

"Neighbouring countries have set age limits at 40, 45, or even 55 years. More than 162 countries worldwide allow job entry at 40 or older. Why should Bangladesh be an exception?"

"Removing age limits for job entry would also help prevent the loss of talented individuals seeking opportunities abroad."

Bangladeshis working abroad can return home and use their expertise to drive national development if they lose their jobs or choose to leave, according to the speakers.

Raising the age limit for employment could keep domestic talents in the country, helping recent graduates pursue research and develop innovative enterprises, transforming Bangladesh's economic landscape in the process, they said.

Emphasising the restrictive nature of current employment policies, the speakers noted in addition to the age limit for government jobs, the private sector also typically requires individuals to be under 30 to be considered for employment.

"There must be efforts to create new job opportunities that match the qualifications and capabilities of Bangladesh's educated but unemployed youth."

"As we move forward, Bangladesh should align with global standards where age limits in professional settings are increasingly seen as outdated."