In a report handed over to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, chief of the commission, they recommend setting a clear timeline for the BCS recruitment cycle.
This includes introducing an annual calendar to streamline the process.
According to the proposal, the Public Service Commission (PSC) should issue notices for exams by the second week of January.
The preliminary exam results are expected to be announced by May, followed by the main exam in June.
The results of the main exam should be published by mid-December, with the final results to be declared by the third week of April.
Appointments to government positions will then take place by July 1st.
The commission also suggested several modifications to the BCS main written examination.
These changes include the addition of six compulsory subjects and the implementation of an integrity test aimed at evaluating candidates' problem-solving skills and psychological traits.
The proposed compulsory subjects are Bengali Essay, English Essay, English Composition and Precis, Bangladesh Constitution, History, Heritage and Culture, International and Current Affairs, and General Science & Technology, Society & Environment, and Geography.
Each of these subjects would carry 100 marks.
Moreover, the report recommends a cap on the number of attempts, with candidates being allowed no more than three attempts if they fail consecutively.
In addition to the compulsory subjects, candidates may choose six optional subjects, each carrying 100 marks.
However, candidates would not be allowed to select more than two subjects from the same category, which could include Arts, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Commerce, and Law.
An integrity test would be introduced as an initial screening for candidates who have successfully passed the written exam.
The report further proposes that candidates should need to score at least 60% in both the written and viva exams to pass.
Regarding the police verification process, the reform commission has recommended that it should only take place after the announcement of the results for both the written and oral examinations.
Additionally, the commission suggests abolishing the practice of using police or intelligence agencies to determine a candidate's political affiliation when considering promotions within the public sector.
This, according to the report, is a stage where political influence begins to interfere with the process.
Once a candidate passes the BCS exam, the Ministry of Public Administration would be responsible for requesting a police report to check for any criminal cases before finalizing the appointment.
If necessary, the ministry may also seek a report from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Furthermore, it suggests that the police verification process should be handled by the relevant ministry where the candidate is appointed, rather than by the Public Service Commission.
The report also recommends discontinuing police verification for positions related to passports, dual citizenship, and the formation of boards for social service organizations or NGOs.
