The Bangladesh Bank has raised the maximum age limit for people seeking entry-level positions in the banking sector to 32 years from 30 in line with an identical shift for public service positions.

The central bank issued a notice yesterday in this regard, directing all banks in the country to raise the maximum age limit of all entry-level officers and other employees by two years.

The move follows a recent government order that mandated the same for public service jobs.

The order issued by President Mohammed Shahabuddin set the age limit for entry-level appointments in government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, statutory authorities, public non-financial corporations and self-governing bodies at 32 years.

And while the previous age limit was 30, children and grandchildren of the country's freedom fighters were allowed an extra two years for such positions.

The advisory council of the interim government had decided to raise the maximum age limit for entry-level applicants of public service jobs on October 24 this year.

For several years, graduates have been demanding that the age limit for entry-level government jobs be increased to 35 years. They even blocked Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection in demonstration numerous times.

The protests intensified after the government announced on September 22 that it was not planning to increase the age limit.