In a significant reform to its civil service recruitment process, Bangladesh is preparing to raise the maximum marks awarded in viva voce interviews for staff recruitment examinations by up to 400 per cent. The decision, reportedly under discussion within the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC), aims to place greater emphasis on personality assessment and communication skills when selecting candidates for government positions.
Under the proposed change, candidates who clear the written examination component would face a substantially more consequential interview round. Currently, viva marks constitute a relatively small fraction of the overall scoring formula, critics have argued that this undermines the ability of selection boards to evaluate candidates' interpersonal skills, confidence, and suitability for public service roles.
Sources within the commission indicated that the exact revised mark distribution is yet to be formally notified, but estimates suggest the viva component could increase from its existing ceiling to as high as 200 marks in some recruitment categories — a jump that would represent roughly a fourfold increase over previous standards.
Education and civil service analysts have expressed mixed reactions. Some welcomed the move as a long-overdue correction, arguing that written exams alone cannot gauge a candidate's readiness for administrative responsibilities. Others raised concerns that inflating interview marks could open the door to subjectivity and favouritism, particularly in a system where allegations of bias in public service selections have surfaced repeatedly.
The BPSC has not yet issued an official circular on the revised scheme, and the government is expected to announce formal guidelines in the coming weeks. Officials said the change is part of a broader effort to modernise recruitment and ensure that those entering public service possess not only academic knowledge but also the communication and decision-making abilities expected of bureaucrats.
Staff recruitment exams in Bangladesh are among the most competitive in the country, with hundreds of thousands of applicants vying for a limited number of posts each year. Any alteration to the selection criteria draws intense scrutiny from aspirants, coaching institutes, and political observers alike.
