The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said there is no scope to increase the number of posts for doctors in the 48th special Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. The information was disclosed in a press release on Wednesday.
According to the press release, in order to deliver healthcare to the doorsteps of the people and address the shortage of doctors in the existing healthcare system, recommendations have been made for the recruitment of a total of 3,286 doctors through the 48th (special) BCS including 3,006 assistant surgeons and 280 assistant dental surgeons.
Their medical examinations have already been completed. Upon completion of police verification, an official gazette will soon be issued to confirm their appointments.
It is noted that while the activities of four regular BCS exams the 44th, 45th, 46th, and 47th are ongoing, the interim government organised the 48th BCS (special) examination 2025 to ensure healthcare services for marginalised communities.
The recruitment process is about to be completed within just five months, which, according to the release, will be considered the fastest in the history of the BCS.
Initially, approval was given for 3,000 posts, but later a proposal was made to add 500 more posts.
However, in the BCS health cadre, there are currently 4,837 vacancies for assistant surgeons and 150 for assistant dental surgeons.
Additionally, the recruitment process for another 4,523 doctors is underway through ongoing BCS exams.
The release further said that once the doctors recommended through the 48th special BCS and other ongoing BCS exams join their positions, there will be no vacant posts left in the health cadre.
Therefore, to ensure the posting of more doctors at the field level, initiatives will have to be taken to create new posts.
Around 41,000 doctors took part in the 48th special BCS examination. Those who were not selected are still waiting for government jobs. With the addition of nearly 5,000 new doctors recently, the total number of waiting doctors now stands at around 43,000, according to the press release.
The ministry stated that in order to ensure fairness and keep opportunities open for both the waiting and newly qualified doctors, there is no scope to increase the number of posts in the 48th special BCS.
Earlier, on 23 October, candidates who passed the examination held a hunger strike demanding the resolution of the repeat cadre issue and the recruitment of more than 3,500 candidates from the 48th BCS.
