The Ministry of Public Administration has announced that it is now accepting applications for reconsideration from candidates excluded from the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) recruitment process.

This decision follows the issuance of a directive on Thursday, which opens the opportunity for all excluded candidates to apply for a review, reports UNB.

According to the order, the Public Service Commission (PSC) had recommended 2,163 candidates for recruitment to various cadres under the 43rd BCS on January 25 last year.

These recommendations were made after preliminary verification by the Special Branch (SB) of the police and the respective district commissioners, as per Rule 4 of the BCS Recruitment Rules, 1981.

Following further screening, a gazette notification on October 15 finalised the recruitment of 2,064 candidates.

Grounds for Exclusion

The gazette excluded 99 candidates, comprising 40 who were absent during medical examinations and 59 deemed ineligible based on agency reports.

Concerns regarding the transparency and reliability of the recruitment process prompted further scrutiny. To address these concerns, the ministry decided to reassess the pre-appointment character verification of all 2,163 recommended candidates through the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

Reports from the intelligence agencies revealed adverse remarks against 227 candidates regarding their character and suitability. Later, these candidates were temporarily deemed ineligible for appointment, with the ministry opting for additional investigation into their cases.

Current Status

Following the additional scrutiny, a final gazette was issued on 30 December, confirming the recruitment of 1,896 candidates. This figure accounts for the exclusion of the 40 candidates absent from medical examinations and the 227 candidates flagged for adverse remarks, totalling 267 exclusions.

Reconsideration Opportunity

The ministry’s latest directive ensures that any of the 227 temporarily excluded candidates can submit applications for reconsideration.

The directive emphasises that this opportunity is open to all candidates seeking a review of their exclusion.

This move aims to restore confidence in the government recruitment process and ensure a fair and transparent selection procedure for all eligible candidates, officials said.