The written examinations for the 46th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) will commence on July 24, according to a circular issued by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) on Sunday.
As per the schedule, the compulsory subject exams will be held from July 24 to August 3, while the written tests for technical and professional positions will take place from August 10 to August 21.
PSC officials said that the written exams for compulsory subjects will be conducted at 18 centres across eight divisions, whereas exams for professional posts will be held at 10 centres.
A total of 21,397 candidates, who passed the preliminary exam in two phases, are expected to sit for the upcoming written examinations. Although the written tests will begin at 10 am, candidates must enter the examination halls by 9:30 a m.
Guidelines for examinees:
The commission has prohibited candidates from bringing books, all types of watches, mobile phones, scientific programmable calculators, electronic devices, card-like objects (bank or credit card look-alikes), jewellery, bracelets, and bags into the exam hall.
Entry will be allowed only after screening candidates using metal detectors in the presence of executive magistrates and law enforcement officials.
Candidates will receive SMS instructions not to bring any prohibited items on exam days. They are required to follow those instructions strictly.
PSC has further directed that examinees must not cover their ears during the exam. If anyone needs to use a hearing aid for medical reasons, they must obtain prior approval from the commission with a recommendation from a specialist doctor.
If any banned items are found with a candidate during the examination, their candidature will be cancelled. They will also be permanently disqualified from all future PSC recruitment exams and may face legal consequences, including imprisonment.
The PSC first published the circular for the 46th BCS on November 30, 2023, and the preliminary exam was held on April 26, 2024, with 254,561 candidates participating. Results were initially published on May 9, 2024, with 10,638 candidates declared successful.
Originally, the written exams were scheduled from August 28 to September 9, 2024, but were postponed on August 25 due to political instability following a change in government.
Later, in an attempt to eliminate discrimination, PSC decided to publish a revised preliminary result by passing an equal number of additional candidates. On November 27, 2024, the commission released the updated list, adding 10,759 more candidates to the existing 10,638.
The commission announced on March 24 that the written exams would begin on May 8, 2025, but this was postponed again on May 21 amid candidates’ protests.