Excluded candidates from 43rd BCS demand fresh gazette by 5 Jan

Candidates excluded from the previous gazette of the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) have demanded a fresh gazette by 5 January to facilitate their joining by 15 January.

The demand was made at a press conference held this afternoon (2 January) in front of Dhaka University's Central Library. 

They expressed their frustration at the press conference organised under the banner of "Gazetted Officer Candidates Excluded from the 43rd BCS,".

At the press conference, they demanded the government explain the reasons for their exclusion and what steps will be taken to address the situation.

In a written statement, Masuma Akter, one of the excluded candidates, said, "The exclusion of 222 candidates and their families from the gazette has left them socially marginalised, deeply disappointed, and confused. Achieving an egalitarian Bangladesh through the July Revolution requires a merit-based civil service. Despite being recommended and gazetted earlier, our exclusion from the reissued gazette is unjust and contradicts the principles of the July Revolution."

Masuma recounted their protest at the Secretariat, saying, "Yesterday, we went to the Secretariat amid strict security measures. Three representatives from our group were allowed inside, but no one met with us. While we submitted a petition, we have yet to receive any response."

"We have no political affiliations or criminal records. Despite this, we were excluded without explanation, leaving us feeling utterly helpless," she said.

Following the press conference, another excluded candidate Raihan Bhuiyan said the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification inviting applications from the candidates to review the decision of their exclusion.

He said the candidates are preparing their applications for submission on Sunday. 

Raihan further emphasised that candidates are eager to know the application deadline.