The government has issued an ordinance setting the maximum age limit for entry into government jobs at 32 years.

The ordinance was published on Monday by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs (Ordinance No. 11, 2024), under the authority of President Md. Sahabuddin.

The ordinance states that it is appropriate and necessary to set an upper age limit for direct recruitment to government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, statutory authorities, public non-financial corporations, and self-governing organizations. Since the parliament is dissolved and the President is satisfied that there are necessary circumstances for immediate action, the ordinance was issued under Article 93(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh. 

The ordinance is titled "Ordinance on Setting the Maximum Age Limit for Direct Recruitment to Government, Autonomous, Semi-Autonomous, Statutory Authorities, Public Non-Financial Corporations, and Self-Governing Organizations, 2024" and will take effect immediately.

The ordinance stipulates that despite any existing law, presidential order, ordinance, regulation, or legal document, the following provisions apply:

1. The maximum age limit for entry into all cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service will be 32 years.

2. The maximum age limit for entry into all government jobs outside the scope of Bangladesh Civil Service will be 32 years.

3. For positions in autonomous, semi-autonomous, statutory authorities, public non-financial corporations, and self-governing organizations where the maximum age limit is specified as 30 or up to 32 years, the age limit will be replaced with 32 years.

4. For recruitment to the defense services and law enforcement agencies, the existing recruitment regulations or relevant provisions will remain unchanged.

The government may issue a notification in the official gazette to resolve any ambiguity or issues related to the enforcement of the ordinance, ensuring consistency with its provisions.

Job seekers had been demanding a 35-year age limit for entry into government jobs, and following their protests, the Ministry of Public Administration formed a committee on September 30 to review and make recommendations regarding a reasonable age limit for entry into government service. 

Based on the committee's recommendations, the Advisory Council decided on October 24 to set the maximum age limit for entry into government jobs at 32 years. 

On that day, the draft ordinance titled "Ordinance on Setting the Maximum Age Limit for Direct Recruitment to Government, Autonomous, Semi-Autonomous, Statutory Authorities, Public Non-Financial Corporations, and Self-Governing Organizations, 2024" was given final approval. The ordinance set the maximum age limit at 32 years for all civil service cadres and all government jobs outside the civil service scope.