The Ministry of Public Administration today issued a gazette notification appointing 96 candidates to various cadres who could not join government service despite passing the 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination 19 years ago.

The appointments were made following recommendations by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission.

According to the notification, the appointments will be considered effective retrospectively from the date their batchmates first joined service in order to maintain their seniority. However, the newly appointed officials will not receive any arrear financial benefits due to the retrospective effect.

The officers have been asked to join their respective cadre-controlling ministries or divisions by May 18. If anyone fails to join by that date, it will be assumed that they are unwilling to accept the appointment, and the appointment order will stand cancelled.

Earlier, on December 18 last year, the ministry appointed 673 candidates from the 27th BCS following a prolonged legal battle.

The results of the first viva voce examination of the 27th BCS were published on January 21, 2007, during the BNP-led government, where 3,567 candidates passed.

Later, on June 30 that year, the then military-backed caretaker government cancelled the results over allegations of irregularities and corruption during the state of emergency.

The successful candidates challenged the cancellation in the High Court, but on July 3, 2008, the court upheld the government’s decision.

The petitioners later filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Appellate Division against the verdict.

Following a long legal battle, the Appellate Division on February 20 last year ordered the government to restore the jobs of 1,137 deprived candidates.

Following the order, the ministry appointed 673 candidates on December 18 last year, while today’s gazette added another 96 candidates to the list.