Bypassing the arguments of both sides, confront reality

One major reason for the increase in unemployment in Bangladesh is the small job market and labor market, with even fewer government jobs available. Various factors, including delays in graduation and post-graduation due to session jams, contribute to this. The COVID-19 pandemic has also disrupted the academic continuity of many, further exacerbating the situation. If the education system progresses normally, a student can complete their postgraduate studies and graduate by the age of twenty-four to twenty-five at most. If a student faces session jams, it can extend their academic journey by another two to four years. As a result, some students may reach the ages of 27 or 28 upon completing their postgraduate studies. Even then, it may take another two to four years for them to prepare for employment.

Today (May 12), according to a news report published in the media, job seekers have gathered at Dhaka University demanding an increase in the age limit for entry into government jobs to 35 years. After the gathering, they attempted to march towards the Secretariat building but were stopped by the police. The police alleged that the demonstrators had obstructed Shahbagh intersection. At this time, the police have reportedly detained 13 people from the protest site, as claimed by the demonstrators.

Even with such a brief news piece, the complexity is evident. Resolving it won't be as simple as applying common sense. Engaging in arguments for and against, rather than confronting reality, will only exacerbate the issue. The reality is that currently, the number of unemployed individuals in the country stands at 25 lakh 90 thousand, as revealed by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on May 6.

Currently, the maximum age for applying for government jobs in the country is 30 years, and the retirement age is 59 years. There's ongoing debate and discussion in various forums about what should be the maximum age limit for someone to be recruited into government service. Some days ago, the Education Minister recommended increasing this age limit to 35 years, sending a letter to the Ministry of Public Administration. Based on this source, many are expressing their opinions for and against the proposal and they are presenting arguments in favor.

Among the job applicants, those who are slightly older often lead movements to increase the age limit for applications. Such movements have been regularly covered in the media for decades. Activists argue that in various countries, the age limit for job applications ranges from 35 to 59 years. Therefore, graduates in Bangladesh wonder why they don't have this opportunity. They believe that it should be competence, not age, that primarily determines a candidate's selection. Additionally, they mention the increasing average lifespan as another factor to consider.

However, on the other hand, it's also true that every year, several lakh new students enter the job market. Those who are slightly older have to compete with these new job seekers every year. Additionally, in any job, priority is often given to "fresh graduates," meaning the reality for older job seekers becomes increasingly challenging.

However, they are our own children, siblings, or relatives. If they don't get a job, where will they go? Many spend days in despair. Some have given up hope of finding a job and are trying to do something else. Another major problem they face is that without a good job, they cannot even get married. They are engulfed in uncertainty about the future. In such a situation, policymakers need to think more empathetically and realistically about the matter. It cannot be simply left to the law; if they encounter obstacles in life, who will take responsibility?

Making government jobs available until the age of 35 poses one set of challenges, while not doing so creates another set of complexities. Without increasing skills in various directions for job seekers and expanding the labor market, there is no way out of this situation. Acknowledging reality, we hope the government will take urgent measures regarding this matter.