DGHS recommends cancellation of BCS, other exams

Following a sudden uptick in coronavirus infections and fatalities, the health directorate has recommended that the forthcoming civil service examination as well as other public examinations be cancelled.

The recommendation was made at an emergency meeting of the Directorate General of Health Services on Tuesday.  

The meeting approved some 12 recommendations in total and sent those to the health ministry and cabinet secretary, saying there is no alternative to implementing the recommendations to control coronavirus situation.

Apart from exam cancellation, it suggested adopting a complete lockdown if the authorities find it possible. Otherwise, public gatherings should be banned ensuring economic balance.

It also suggested putting a limit on various functions, including political rally, religious gatherings, Iftar programmes, kitchen markets, public transports, and shopping malls.

The educational institutions should remain closed for some more days. At the same time, all public examinations (BCS, SSC, HSC, Dakhil, and other tests) have to be stopped, it recommended.

Other suggestions include strengthening isolation of Covid patients, ensuring proper quarantine of those who came in contact of the patients and the overseas returnees, reducing Eid holidays, adopting virtual means while holding programmes, and restricting public movement in the tourist attractions. 

However, the chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission, Md Soharab Hossain, had earlier expressed the commission's firm stance to hold the preliminary examination of 41st BCS on 19 March.  

"As per the commission's decision, the examination will be held on 19 March following hygiene rules strictly," he told media on Monday.