The Directorate General of Health Services brought about a change to the viva voce pattern to recruit 1,808 3rd and 4th class employees in 26 districts.
The health directorate picked up five qualifying candidates instead of three to vie for a single post through the viva voce examination likely to be held in the third week of April.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) brought this change after 2006 at the directive of Health Ministry high-ups.
A five-member central recruitment committee, headed by Dr Subash Kumer Shaha, additional director general of the DGHS, nodded to the changeover.
A total of 9,024 candidates from 26 districts had qualified in the written test to face the interview.
It was reportedly said although the viva voce date was yet to be fixed recommendations from influential persons in favour of candidates had been pouring in.
Several DGHS high-ups told the Dhaka Tribune they had been receiving recommendations from ministers, bureaucrats, political leaders etc.
They suspect that the recruitment will be done on political consideration.
Asked about introducing the new pattern for viva voce, Dr Shah Newaz, director, administration, DGHS, and member secretary of the central recruitment committee, said there was no legal binding on bringing about change.
According to the recruitment rule, there was option to select three to five candidates for viva voce, he added.
The health directorate received 81,944 applications against 1,260 vacancies for third class posts, and 22,170 applications for 548 vacant posts of fourth class employees.
A 70-mark written test containing Multiple Choice Questions was held on March 28 to select candidates facing viva-voce.