At least 13 students of different colleges and universities were detained yesterday as they blocked Shahbagh intersection in the capital demanding that the age limit to enter government jobs be increased to 35 from 30.
A group of students under the banner of Sadharan Chhatra Parishad blocked the intersection from 4:30pm to 5pm, disrupting traffic.
Police later charged batons to disperse the demonstrators and detained 13 of them, including Sadharan Chhatra Parishad President Imtiaz Hossain. However, the protesters again gathered in front of the National Museum, chanting slogans to highlight their demand.
Inspector of Shahbagh police station Zafar Ali said the demonstrators were dispersed in order to avoid traffic congestion.
Earlier in the day, students formed a human chain in front of the National Museum, and said thousands of their fellows could not apply for government jobs because of conditions regarding age.
A protester said: “A student reaches around 28 when he or she finishes university education. This is why they get only two or three years to prepare themselves for government jobs, which is inadequate. So, the age limit should be increased.”
“When the life expectancy was 50, we had the age limit of 30. Now as the life expectancy has jumped to 75, should not the age limit be increased as well?”
Several students said session jams at government colleges and universities eat up too much of their valuable time in life.
According to existing rules, candidates can apply for jobs in the public sector until they reach 30.
