Extension of age limit: 13 demonstrators held while going to PMO

At least 13 students were detained when they were going to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office with a demand to keep the age limit for entry into government jobs to 35 years from existing 30.

Police charged batons on them, leaving at least five students injured, the agitating students claimed adding that three of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Policemen trying to obstruct students in Bangla Motor of Dhaka March 10, 2018 when they were going to the prime minister’s office bearing the demand to keep the age limit for entry into government jobs to 35 years from existing 30. Photo: Collected

While contacted, Azimul Haque, additional deputy commissioner (Romna zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), told The Daily Star that police foiled the student gathering and detained 13 students as they were going to the prime minister’s office blocking roads, causing immense suffering for people.   

A group of 500-600 students from different colleges and universities first started their scheduled sit-in-programme in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh in the capital around 11:00am to meet their demand, reports our Dhaka University correspondent.

Law enforcers obstruct students in Bangla Motor of Dhaka March 10, 2018 when they were going to the prime minister’s office bearing the demand to keep the age limit for entry into government jobs to 35 years from existing 30. Photo: Collected

But police barred them at Bangla Motor when the students were going to the PMO in procession to submit the memorandum around 12noon.

In the memorandum, the demonstrators said the students get only two to three years to take preparation from the government jobs as they complete their education at the age of 28.