Students block Shahbagh for increased age limit

Demonstrators demanding increasing the age limit for entering the government jobs yesterday blocked the capital's Shahbagh intersection- one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city.

Around two hundred students under the banner of Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Parishad (BSCP) blocked the intersection for an hour from 4:00pm, halting all kinds of vehicular movement in the area.

Currently, the age limit to apply for civil service is 30. Demonstrators demand that it be raised to 35, alleging that the education system gives general students little time to "fight" for the jobs.

Police later dispersed them allegedly by using batons.

Ten demonstrators were held from the spot, the agitators claimed.

Among those held were Imtiaz Hossain, a Dhaka University student and president of BSCP, and its secretary Nuruzzaman Chandan.

"They will be released," said Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station.

Later, being dispersed from the intersection, the protestors resembled in front of the National Museum and chanted different slogans to press home their demands.

While talking to pressmen, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna zone Ibrahim Khan said there was no incident of charging batons, but rather police had just requested them to leave the place as it is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city. 

Demonstrators, however, claimed that a student becomes around 28-year old when he or she finishes university education.  As a result, they get only two to three years for taking preparation for government jobs, which are not sufficient. So, the age limit should be increased, they added.

 "When the life expectancy was 50, we had an age limit of 30. Now when the life expectancy is 71, what should the age limit be?" questioned Imtiaz Hossain.

They would have no choice but to "commit suicide" if the age limit ceiling was not raised, demonstrators said, adding that session clots at government colleges and universities ate up "too much" of their life.

Civil service is the single largest job sector of Bangladesh. It has become more lucrative to students after the government doubled the salary for civil servants in the latest pay scale last year.