Parliament passes bill setting 32-year age limit for govt jobs

Parliament today (5 April) passed a bill setting the maximum age limit at 32 years for direct recruitment to government jobs and various public sector bodies.

The bill, titled 'Maximum Age Limit for Direct Appointment in Government, Autonomous, Statutory Government Authorities, Public Non-Financial Corporations and Self-Governing Bodies Act, 2026', is the first bill passed by the 13th parliament.

The parliament has also passed the 'Public Service (Amendment) Bill 2026'. 

Public Administration Minister Md Abdul Bari placed the bills in the House, which were subsequently passed by the government body via voice vote. 

While the age limit bill increases the limit for most applicants by two years, it effectively reduces the entry age for certain existing roles that previously allowed recruitment at 33, 35, 40, or 45 years. 

Recruitment process is underway by issuing a circular keeping the maximum age limit of 32 years for direct recruitment to the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC), as a constitutional institution, and therefore it is necessary to turn the said ordinance into law, said the minister.

The Public Service (Amendment) Bill 2026, which replaces an interim government ordinance from May 2025, introduces strict disciplinary provisions.

Under the new law, "misconduct obstructing government work" is now defined to include disobeying lawful orders from higher authorities, collective absence from work without leave or reasonable cause, and obstructing any government employee from performing their duties. 

These provisions were introduced to curb insubordination and disorder following various staff movements while refining the investigation process required before taking disciplinary action.

Following the passage of the bills, Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam highlighted that raising the age limit was a cornerstone demand of the 2024 July Uprising. 

He noted the presence of "July warriors" in the gallery but criticised opposition members for not supporting the bills during the final vote. 

The bill also mentioned that increasing the age limit for direct appointment in government jobs will increase the opportunities for job seekers, create opportunities for educated unemployed youth to engage themselves in building the country, and above all, the unemployment problem in the country will be solved.