The 41st Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) preliminary examination was held on Friday, disregarding the recent surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths.
This year, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) made arrangements for examining 404,513 job seekers across the country in compliance with an 11-point health and safety guideline.
In light of the increase in coronavirus infections, health experts have warned that the situation may worsen and urged everyone, especially examinees, to strictly adhere to social distancing rules in order to curb the spread of the virus.
Holding out an assurance, BPSC Chairman Md Sohorab Hossain said the commission had asked everyone concerned to maintain the 11-point hygiene rules.
Meanwhile, BPSC Member Md Shahjahan Ali Mollah, the individual in-charge of the 41st BCS, said: “We have arranged sick beds at each centre, so even if a candidate falls ill, he can finish the exam without worries. Doctors will be on standby during the exam as well.”
Also Read - 41st BCS exams: DMP asks candidates to reach exam venues by 8:30am
On Tuesday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) finalized 12 recommendations to rein in the spread of coronavirus, but has yet to make a final decision on implementing them.
DGHS Line Director (Communicable Disease Control) Dr Md Nazmul Islam said: “We have discussed some recommendations but have not sent them to the authorities concerned as yet.”
BPSC Chairman Sohorab said the commission had not received any recommendation from the DGHS or the government that would prevent them from holding the exam.
Dr Nazrul Islam, former vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said: “The infection rate [of Covid-19] is on the rise. The examinees must conform to health regulations. Otherwise, it might result in a large number of infections.”
The High Court earlier sought to learn of the BPSC’s stance in the wake of protests from BCS candidates who had been demanding the postponement of the exam amid the Covid-19 surge.
The BPSC on Tuesday informed the court that it would not be possible to postpone the examination as all preparations to hold it on Friday had been completed.
According to the BPSC, 404,513 job seekers have applied for the 41st BCS against 2,166 cadre posts. The preliminary exam is scheduled to be held in eight divisional cities from 10am to 12pm on Friday.
On Thursday, Bangladesh recorded its highest daily caseload in over three months as the health authorities reported 2,187 fresh cases in the 24 hours until the morning.
The country also logged 16 more Covid-19 deaths during the same period, taking the number of total fatalities to 8,624.
BPSC’s 11-point health guideline
The instructions provided by the BPCS to ensure health and safety during exams are:
1. Adequate lighting and ventilation should be ensured during each test.
2. Examiners should arrange hand-washing facilities or hand sanitizers outside exam halls.
3. Candidates’ body temperature should be measured at the time of entry, using non-contact infrared thermometers.
4. Masks and disinfectants should be kept in the control room of each test centre.
5. Whole centres should be disinfected.
6. Posters or festoons with awareness messages about hygiene should be put up at the centres.
7. Crowds must be kept in check. To this end, the cooperation of law enforcement agencies can be sought.
8. Water, sanitation, waste management facilities and a clean environment must be ensured at all exam centres.
9. Candidates have to enter while maintaining a distance of at least three feet with each other and, if necessary, the authorities can mark where they are to stand. No one can enter the exam hall without wearing a mask.
10. Seating arrangements must be made in a way that a distance of at least three feet is maintained between two candidates.
11. Any kind of gathering outside the examination hall should be avoided.
