Senior Awami League leader and cabinet member Obaidul Quader has dismissed reports suggesting age limit for government jobs would be raised next month.
“I have not made any statement over raising the entry age to 35 years. Let me make it clear that these are nothing but rumours,” he said while speaking to the media on Saturday (Feb 16) at the party chief’s Dhanmondi offices.
His comments came while responding to a query referring to media reports which said the age limit would be raised in March.
“The news [report] did not quote me. I have not given any statement on this matter. It’s fake and false,”
A senior cabinet member, Quader said any decision to raise the entry age to public service is yet to be made.
“How can I comment before an official decision?” he said.
After making it clear on several occasions that it has no plans to raise the limit, in August last year the government said that it was considering it.
Several Dhaka-based media reported then quoting the cabinet secretary that “talks on the issue are ongoing and the process will start soon”.
In November 2017, the retirement age for freedom fighters in government services was raised to 60 years.
Job seekers then raised the demand for increasing the age ceiling for entering public services.
Private organisations and banks do not want to recruit candidates over 30 years of age in accordance with government rules, squeezing their job opportunities, they argue.