As Bangladesh grapples with soaring unemployment rates among its youth, a troubling trend has emerged: the collection of hefty application fees for government jobs. Many young individuals, particularly those from low-income families, face immense financial strain, often sacrificing basic necessities just to afford these fees, which can amount to several thousand taka annually.
According to the latest Labor Force Survey, approximately 2.6 million people in the country are unemployed, with 2.1 million of them being young adults. Among this group, around 800,000 are highly educated and actively seeking employment. The situation is exacerbated by the costly application processes for job opportunities.
For instance, in the recent 46th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, over 338,000 applicants vied for just 1,140 positions, generating an income of approximately 23.6 crore taka for the government from a fee of 700 taka per applicant. Similarly, recruitment exams for primary school assistant teachers yield between 40 to 45 crore taka in application fees alone.
This financial burden, which disproportionately affects the youth, has become a significant barrier to employment, with many losing out on opportunities simply due to the inability to pay the fees.
Muktar Hossain, a graduated from Dhaka's Government Titumir College in the Department of Chemistry, struggling to survive in the capital with two tuitions from Messe. Looking for a job, being good in education, he got the opportunity of free training in a computer and shorthand training center with the help of an elder brother. However, due to lack of money, Muktar cannot apply for most of the jobs. Despite having the desired qualifications and interest, he was recently rejected for the post of Metrorail ticket machine operator because he could not raise Tk 1,000 in bank draft. Nazmul, a student of the same coaching, and many others could not apply for the post due to lack of money.
Md. Bashir Ahmed, English teacher of Rising Sun Computer and Shorthand Training Center in city’s Agargaon, said, “I see many students in my coaching do not have breakfast in the morning due to lack of money. In the afternoon, they eats snacks, can't apply for many jobs due to lack of money. A bank draft of 1000 taka is requested in a job of HSC pass qualification of 16th grade of Metrorail. Some have to go without food for at least 10 days to collect this money. Because, they cannot run after earning day and night, they have exam preparation.
“I myself am applying for the job but can't apply for all jobs. A few days ago, I had to pay a fee of 669 taka to apply for a post in Paubo. On Tuesday, I applied for the post of cashier cum computer operator in the session judge court of Dinajpur. It cost like 250 taka. As the cost is low, I apply more for third-fourth class jobs. Even that takes 3-4 thousand taka per month. I made five applications in 10 days of this month. After completing Masters and coming to Dhaka in 2022, I have given 11 vaibas so far. Practical (typing) given 22. No job yet. 80-90 thousand taka have been spent on the application in two years. After covid pandemic, the application fee has been increased again,” he added.
In a government notification issued in September 2022, the application fee for 9th grade and above (noncadre) posts is Tk 600, 10th grade post application fee is Tk 500, 11th to 12th grade is Tk 300, 13th to 16th grade is Tk 200 and 17th to 20th grade is Tk. 100 is set. In another notification of 2023, in case of online application, 10 per cent commission on application fee and 15 per cent VAT on commission.
Apart from this, an application fee of Tk 700 has to be submitted for the BCS exam. Examination fee ranging from Tk 500 to Tk 1500 is being kept in various autonomous, semi-government institutions and departments. At the end of 2015, Bangladesh Bank issued instructions not to charge 'fee' for job test applications in banks, but from March 2019, it again set an application fee of Tk 200.
Job seekers said that the government is creating a way to earn billions of taka by capitalizing on unemployment. Various organizations or departments are charging huge fees through the recruitment exam. However, even after applying for years, the job is not available. Meanwhile, question leaks are happening again and again. The current interim government has student representatives. They know, they will definitely take action in this regard.
Khadija Khatun Mukta, a former student of Rangpur's Carmichael College, who is in the movement to increase the age limit for entering government jobs to 35 years, said that she has been applying for jobs since HSC in 2015. Masters completed in 2022 and still applying. 3-4 thousand taka are spent every month.
“Apart from this, many times three-four exams are given on the same day. I can participate in one. I can't do the other three. Bangladesh Bank conducts preliminary, re-test within Tk 200. But other government institutions charge 500-600 taka. Inconsistency and arbitrariness in everything,” she added.
Md Nasir Uddin, owner of Job Medicine coaching center in Mirpur said, “I started applying for government jobs after completing my graduation in linguistics from Dhaka University in 2009. In addition to surviving in the capital with tuition income, I applied for about two and a half hundred jobs in seven years. I have given 17 first and second class jobs. Job not found. More than one and a half lakh taka were spent on the job application itself. In 2017, the entry age for government jobs was over.”
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
