Students across the nation are urging the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) to extend the application deadline for the upcoming 46th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination as their academic final exams were delayed due to the ongoing political unrest in the country.
The BPSC published the 46th BCS circular on November 30, stipulating December 31 as the final date for application submission. As per the circulation, students who have participated in their final graduation examination by the deadline can apply.
However, this excludes students whose graduation exams have been postponed due to the unstable political situation, impacting universities like the National University.
“The upcoming BCS faces uncertainty due to elections,” explains Md Akash Hossain, a student from Rajbari Government College under National University. “For students nearing graduation, COVID-19 already delayed our studies. Denying them the opportunity to apply for the 46th BCS would be detrimental to thousands.”
Precedents exist for such extensions. The written test for the 45th BCS, originally scheduled for November 27, was postponed to January 21, 2024, due to the political situation.
Akash proposes a similar two-month extension for the 46th BCS application deadline to February 2024.
This request resonates with Nazneen Sultana, a student at Kushtia Government College. “The BPSC strictly enforces date-of-discharge regulations,” she notes. “Granting an extension is only fair, considering the students are not responsible for the political instability caused by the elections.”
Fahmid Al Mamoon, a civil engineering student at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, adds, “The unique situation arising from delayed graduation exams will not apply to future BCS exams. Therefore, extending the application deadline or the last exam date for the 46th BCS is a matter of justice.”
Raisul Islam, a spokesperson for a movement seeking the cancellation of the 43rd BCS non-cadre circular, voices support for the students' cause. “The current situation is uncertain,” he acknowledges. “We stand with them in their demand for an extension.”
It should be noted, that the 44th BCS application deadline was extended twice. First, the deadline was extended from December 31, 2021, to January 31, 2022. It was then further extended to March 2, 2022.
The BPSC has yet to respond to the 46th BCS application deadline extension petition. The commission's decision on the application deadline will determine the fate of thousands of students seeking to compete in the prestigious BCS examination.
