The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has requested the Supreme Court to postpone the oath-taking ceremony for its newly appointed members.

On Wednesday (January 8), the PSC sent a letter to the Registrar General`s Office of the Supreme Court, in this regard.

The oath taking ceremony of its six new members was scheduled for Thursday (January 9).

The letter cited "urgent work related to examinations" as the reason for rescheduling the ceremony.

The government has appointed six more members to the PSC on January 2. The newly appointed members are – Prof Dr Shahnaz Sarkar, Md Munir Hossain, Brig Gen (retd) Dr AF Jaglul Ahmed, Dr Md Mizanur Rahman, Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, and Prof. Dr Syeda Shahina Subhan.

Earlier, the government had appointed eight members to the PSC in two separate phases. With the additions, the total number of PSC members now stands at 14.

Meanwhile, the postponement follows an appeal submitted by two Dhaka University students to Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed, urging him to block the oath taking ceremony of three of the new members -- Dr Syeda Shahina Sobhan, Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AF Jaglul Ahmed, and Dr Md Mizanur Rahman.

DU students Jalal Ahmed and Al Amin Mira -- in their petition, submitted through the Supreme Court Registrar General, claimed that they were close associates of the former Awami League government. They alleged that the appointments tarnish the PSC`s legacy and spirit of impartiality.