Doctors staged a sit-in at the Secretariat gate on Sunday, demanding the age limit for doctors in the 47th BCS examination be extended by two years to 34, as before, and for an immediate gazette notification in this regard, warning of a countrywide work stoppage if their demands are not met.
The United Medical Organizations of Bangladesh (UMOB), a coalition of medical professionals and students, organized the protest in front of the Secretariat in Dhaka.
At the protest, they highlighted that the age limit for applicants in the 47th BCS notification was set at 21 to 32 years.
However, while it takes a minimum of four years to complete a bachelor's degree, doctors require at least 78 months (6.5 years) to complete their MBBS/BDS degree and internship, they said.
Previously, the age limit for doctors in the BCS exam was 32 years, while it was 30 years for others.
In the latest notification, the age limit was extended by two years for all applicants except doctors, leading to a discriminatory situation.
UMOB Chief Coordinator Dr Mubarak Hossain said: "Do not force us to take stricter measures. We have been trying to resolve this issue through discussions. Despite everyone's agreement, for some unseen reasons, it has not been implemented.
"We do not want another Shahbagh blockade, nor do we want doctors to take to the streets. If doctors come to the streets, there will be a work stoppage. Patients may suffer, but there will be nothing we can do. We wanted a solution through discussions, but now we are considering a work stoppage. Doctors across the country have agreed to join us in shutting down medical services and protesting on the streets."
Dr Raihan Asar, a central committee member of the Bangladesh Medical Community, said: "We know patients suffer when healthcare institutions are shut down. We do not want to take that route. Top officials and the Ministry of Health have all supported our demands."
He added that the Ministry of Health has even recommended that the Ministry of Public Administration take action to increase the age limit, but the Public Administration Ministry has been delaying the decision for over a month.
Dr Minhajul Abedin, convener of Voice of Doctors and a member of the National Civic Committee, said: "The application process for the 47th BCS has already started, with only 12 days left. Yet the issue for doctors remains unresolved.
"While the age limit has been extended for all, it has not been extended for doctors, which is a significant discrimination. The medical community participated in the anti-discrimination movement. We did not participate to maintain any form of inequality."