No discrimination based on political identity in BCS recruitment: Home Minister

He made the remarks at an emergency press conference held at the meeting room of the Home Ministry at the Secretariat this afternoon, amid confusion surrounding the gazette notification for appointments under the 49th BCS (Special Education) cadre.

The Home Minister said the BNP had fought for and organised the July Mass Uprising to establish a discrimination-free state and society. 

Regardless of a person's political identity, he said, there would be no discrimination in any examination or other process on that basis.

Referring to reactions on social media, the minister said one person had posted that he would commit suicide or set himself on fire because his name had appeared in an initial gazette but was subsequently absent from the final list following verification.

The minister said gazette notifications do not necessarily have to be issued only once and that further notifications could be issued in phases. 

He also noted that the date for joining the service was still ahead.

Regarding the political identity of the person, the minister said he had been an office-bearer, possibly a joint general secretary, of a banned student organisation at a hall of Dhaka University. 

However, he said the person should not assume that he had been denied appointment because of his political identity.

“I am declaring now, as I have said before, that no discrimination will be created against anyone because of their political identity,” the minister said.

He said police verification was a regular part of the recruitment process. 

In cases involving serious criminal allegations, a small number of candidates could be excluded following verification. 

He added that where a person has a conviction, certain legal provisions may apply until the conviction is withdrawn or an appeal is resolved.

The minister said such procedures were necessary because questions had been raised about public service appointments in the past.

He also referred to another individual, whom he did not name, who is a political party leader and had posted on social media calling for an end to what he described as “malpractices” in the name of verification.

The Home Minister said verification was a regular process carried out in accordance with the rules under all governments.

However, he said that if someone does not receive an appointment because of a serious allegation identified during verification, the person can submit a complaint or application to the ministry, which can then investigate the matter. 

He said the time for such a process had not yet arrived.

The minister urged all concerned not to create excitement among university students through misinformation or disinformation.

“There is no reason to create agitation in universities through such misinformation or disinformation,” he said, 

urging those concerned not to provoke students for the purpose of creating political instability.

He reiterated that there would be no discrimination against anyone based on political identity.

Regarding the 49th BCS (Special Education) appointments, the minister said there was still time to issue further gazette notifications. 

He said a gazette notification for 46 people had been scheduled for Monday.

Before that, he said, several procedures had to be completed, including obtaining the President's signature on the relevant gazette file.

The Home Minister urged everyone to remain patient and wait for the process to be completed. 

He also called on those spreading misinformation and attempting to create instability to refrain from doing so, reports BSS.