Doctors’ group demands higher age limit for BCS exams

A group of doctors has raised four demands, including one for a higher age limit to sit for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exams.

Under the banner of the PSC Reform Movement Doctors’ Council, the group called on the government to raise the ceiling to 34 years.

The leaders of the organisation held a media briefing outside the National Museum in Dhaka’s Shahbagh at 3:30pm on Sunday to outline their demands.

The second demand is a minimum three-month extension to the application window for the 48th Special BCS, calculated from the date of the revised circular.

Third, they called on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to allow intern doctors who passed the preliminary exam to participate in viva voce interviews using provisional registration cards issued by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC).

They also urged the government to issue official appointment orders for successful candidates and to permit delayed joining dates, taking into account the completion of internships.

The fourth demand calls for the public disclosure of marks for all three stages -- preliminary, written, and oral -- of all BCS exams.

During the briefing, Mahfuzul Haque Chowdhury, lead organiser of the group, criticised recent changes to BCS eligibility criteria.

“Until the 46th BCS, doctors had a two-year age relaxation,” he said. “But in the 47th BCS circular, that benefit was withdrawn along with the removal of the freedom fighter quota -- cutting our rightful advantage in the process.”

On the short application timeline for the current special BCS, he said: “Every BCS typically provides at least three months for preparation. But this time, only 40 days were given -- an unrealistic period for any candidate. This deadline must be extended, and our other demands must also be met.”